Alexis Ashley Ehlers, a Juneau woman missing since Aug. 13, has been identified as the person found dead in a covered hot tub Monday.
“We did receive a positive ID,” said Juneau Police Department spokeswoman Erann Kalwara. Next of kin has been notified.
Kalwara said there was not a definitive answer as of yet as to the cause or time of death. But, she added, “based on the preliminary findings, there is no sign of foul play.”
“An autopsy has been done, but we have not received a final report from the medical examiner’s office,” Kalwara said, adding that could take a month and that the investigation is continuing.
The police department received calls concerning 28-year-old Ehlers, but Kalwara did not believe anyone had spotted her or had contact with her since she was seen on surveillance video leaving the scene of a car crash Aug. 13.
Ehlers had been distraught over personal issues and walked away from the very minor vehicle collision prior to the arrival of responding officers, JPD Lt. Kris Sell said in a press release last week asking for help in locating the missing woman.
On Facebook, family members said Ehlers was last seen across the street from Frontier Suites in the 9400 block of Glacier Highway. She wrecked her vehicle and was seen on video walking away from the scene about 2:30 a.m., leaving her phone behind.
Ehlers’ body was found by a homeowner on Muir Street off Glacier Highway near the Mendenhall River, inside his covered outdoor hot tub. Officers responded and removed the cover, verifying that the person inside was dead. The homeowner has no known relationship to Ehlers, Kalwara said.
Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
