Homicide; 500-block N Sitka Street

Update on 12/5/23:

At 10:32 PM on November 4, 2019, a 2008 gray Mazda 6 was reported as stolen to APD.  The unoccupied vehicle had been left outside a business on the 2000-block of E 3rd Avenue to warm up.  When the owner went back outside a few minutes later, the car was gone.

Just over a month later, at 10:34 AM on December 5, 2019, police responded to the 500-block of N Sitka Street regarding a deceased person inside a vehicle.  Upon arrival officers located 27-year-old Lanycha Zimmer inside the stolen Mazda. 

Through the subsequent investigations it has been determined the stolen vehicle was parked for an undetermined amount of time, in mid to late November 2019, in an apartment complex parking lot on the 600-block of E 22nd Avenue. 

It has been four years since the theft of the vehicle and Zimmer’s death; no arrests have been made.  Police are asking for anyone with information regarding either crime to contact Detective Elbie at 907-786-8688 or jeffrey.elbie@anchorageak.gov.  To remain anonymous, you may submit a tip online at www.AnchorageCrimeStoppers.com.

Update on 12/13/19:

Detectives need the public's help in identifying this person of interest in reference to the stolen vehicle investigation related to the homicide investigation. Detectives believe that person may have information to help solve this case.

Please see attached for surveillance photos of the person, and for a stock photo of the vehicle.

The grey 2008 Mazda 6 was stolen from 2000 block of E 3rd Avenue on November 4th at around 10:00 PM. The person of interest in the area was wearing a gray/dark green hooded jacket with black shoulders, white shoes, dark faded pants, and a full backpack.

If you were within the vicinity of the 2000 block of E 3rd Avenue that night (11/4/19 before 10PM) and recall seeing a grey Mazda 6 in the area, recall seeing the person of interest (pictured), and/or have any other information about their identity, please contact non-emergency dispatch at 3-1-1. To give an anonymous tip, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or AnchorageCrimeStoppers.com

Update 12/6/19 7:55pm:
The victim has been identified as Lanycha Zimmer (27 years old).

Next of kin procedures have been completed.

Original 12/6/19 5:50pm:
On 12/5/19 around 10:30 a.m., Dispatch received a report of a body found inside a vehicle parked in the 500 block of Sitka Street. Officers with the Patrol Division responded and located a body inside a grey 2008 Mazda 6. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner to determine cause of death.

The preliminary investigation found the victim is an adult female who sustained trauma to the body. The type of trauma is still being investigated. The vehicle was reported stolen from the 2000 E. 3rd Avenue on 11/4/19.

The identity of the victim will be released once next of kin procedures have been completed.

Anyone with information about this investigation, including surveillance video, is asked to call Dispatch at 311 or Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP to remain anonymous.

19-39793 (stolen vehicle investigation)
19-43738 (homicide investigation)