MOSTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY SKIES WITH SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUING
THROUGH LATE MORNING. WIND NORTHWEST TO NORTH 5 TO 15 MPH.
TEMPERATURES FROM THE UPPER 30S INCREASING TO THE UPPER 40S.
19-year-old Devin Rossiter was found guilty in Ketchikan Superior Court Tuesday afternoon of second degree murder in the stabbing death of 45-year old Nick Stachelrodt . Rossiter was also found guilty of tampering with evidence.
The jury of six men and six women began deliberations at about 2:30 Friday afternoon, continued deliberations on Monday, and reached a decision late Tuesday morning.
Rossiter looked straight-ahead and showed no visible reaction when the verdicts were read by Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens. After reading the verdicts, Stephens asked the defense and prosecution if either party wanted the jury to be polled. Assistant District Attorney James Scott said the State did not wish to poll the jury. Defense attorney Sam McQuerry requested that Stephens poll the jury.
All 12 jurors affirmed their verdicts were true and correct. Stephens then thanked and excused the jury.
Asked his reaction to the verdict, Scott said this is just one step in the process.
“And the only appropriate thing for me to say is to thank the jury very much for their service in what I’m sure was a difficult case, and to thank the entire community. The process will continue and thank you for inquiring.”
McQuerry declined to comment.
On March 12th of last year, Rossiter, then 18, was knocking on the back doors of homes in the Vallenar View Trailer Park asking for cigarettes. Rossiter was twice refused cigarettes at the home of John and Mary Stachelrodt, the victim’s elderly parents. When their son, Nick Stachelrodt returned home, he found Rossiter searching in his parent’s vehicle, and asked him to leave. When Stachelrodt tried to pull Rossiter from the vehicle, Rossiter stabbed Stachelrodt twice in the upper chest, fatally wounding him. Rossiter fled, and Stachelrodt died minutes later.
Rossiter’s sentencing hearing has been set for April 5th at 8:30 am in Ketchikan Superior Court. In the meantime, Rossiter is being held at the Ketchikan Correctional Center without bail. Murder in the 2nd degree carries a sentence of ten to 99 years.