From the District Attorney’s Office:

October 6, 2023 (Anchorage, AK) – Yesterday, Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna sentenced 37-year-old Michael Drost to 40 years with 15 years suspended, for a total 25 years of active jail time to serve with 10 years of probation to follow, for the murder of Dwayne English on December 18, 2018. Drost was found guilty by a jury on May 23, 2023.

At trial, the evidence showed that Michael Drost was looking for a dog near 12th Street and Gambell when he encountered the victim, Dwayne English. Drost and English got into a verbal altercation which led to Drost approaching English on multiple occasions during one of which Drost is observed on surveillance video stabbing English in the heart with a knife. English proceeded to leave the scene while Drost followed him for a short time. English eventually succumbed to his injuries in front of a local business. 

This case was prosecuted by Anchorage Assistant District Attorneys Luba Bartnitskaia and Kaila Hurley. The Anchorage Police Department’s Homicide Unit conducted the investigation.

Update on 05/23/23:

Today, an Anchorage jury convicted 37-year-old Michael Drost of murder in the second degree, manslaughter, and criminal trespass in the first degree for the murder of 61-year-old Dwayne English on Dec. 18, 2018. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna presided over the trial.

 At trial, the evidence showed that Michael Drost was looking for a dog near 12th Street and Gambell Street when he encountered the victim, Dwayne English. Drost and English got into a verbal altercation, which led to Drost approaching English on multiple occasions during one of which Drost is observed on surveillance video stabbing English in the heart with a knife. English proceeded to leave the scene while Drost followed him for a short time. English eventually succumbed to his injuries in front of a local business. 

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2023, in front of Judge McKenna. Judge McKenna may sentence Drost to a term of imprisonment of no less than 15 years and no more than 99 years.

 This case was prosecuted by Anchorage Assistant District Attorneys Luba Bartnitskaia and Kaila Hurley. The Anchorage Police Department’s Homicide Unit did the investigation.

Update on 12/21/18:
Further investigation by homicide detectives has found that on 12/18/18 at approximately 1:30 p.m., a verbal altercation took place between the victim and suspect on Gambell Street near E 12th Avenue. When the argument evolved into a physical fight, the suspect stabbed the victim in the upper body and fled on foot from the scene. The victim died a short time later as a result of his injuries.

Based on the evidence collected, the suspect has been identified as Michael Drost (32 years old). Drost was already in custody at the Anchorage Jail on a burglary charge from the day after the homicide. On 12/19/18 at approximately 1:10 p.m., Officers with the Patrol Division responded to the 400 block of E 9th Avenue in reference to a burglary. Drost was found hiding in the residence; he was arrested and remanded at the Anchorage Jail. In addition to burglary charges, he now faces a charge of Murder in the second degree.

Next of kin procedures have been completed. The victim has been identified as Dwayne English (61 years old).

APD Case: 18-50681

Original 12/18/18 at 3:23PM:
On 12/18/18 at approximately 2:10 p.m., Officers with the Patrol Division responded to the Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web building (1248 Gambell Street) in reference to a stabbing.

The preliminary investigation found that an adult male was outside the Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web building and appeared to be extremely intoxicated. Staff members called on Anchorage Safety Patrol (ASP) for assistance. Medics made contact and began assessing the adult male when he indicated that he had been stabbed. Further assessment yielded that the adult male victim had a stab wound to the upper body. He died shortly thereafter at the scene as a result of his injuries.

There is no suspect information at this time. Officers have cause to believe that this is an isolated incident.

Anyone who has information about this investigation, including surveillance footage, is asked to call Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1). To stay anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com

APD Case: 18-50681