Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A woman experiencing homelessness found dead in Dillingham

City of Dillingham , Public Safety

Dillingham police do not suspect foul play and say the woman could have died from hypothermia.

A woman experiencing homelessness was found dead last Thursday in Dillingham. Police say 38-year-old Shirley Kalmakoff could have died from hypothermia.

According to a press release from Police Chief Dan Pasquariello, officers received a report early that morning of a body found in the woods between the Little Foot store and AC grocery. 

Police do not suspect foul play. Next of kin have been notified and her body was sent to the state Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy.

Credit Dillingham Police Department
A homeless camp in Dillingham. Chief Pasquariello in a safety report to the city council, "There are actual homeless camps in Dillingham. We responded to this camp numerous times this summer due to bears threatening the residents, and disturbances. Our community has 10 chronically homeless persons, plus several situational homeless persons. They live in tents, abandoned cars, boats, and buildings during this pandemic."

Chief Pasquariello’s safety report identifies at least 10-12 chronically homeless persons’ in Dillingham. There are no designated homeless shelter services in the community. Instead, people experiencing homelessness live in tents, abandoned buildings and vehicles. 

Contact the author at tyler@kdlg.org or 907-842-2200