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Kowalski Trial in Alaska Cold Case Starts in Juneau

By Beacon Staff

JUNEAU, Alaska — A cold case murder trial has started in Juneau involving the shooting of a Washington State woman by her boyfriend at Yakutat’s Glacier Bear Lodge in 1996.

The Juneau Empire reports the case involving the shooting death of Sandra Perry by Robert Kowalski was re-opened in 2009 after Kowalski was convicted of homicide for killing a different girlfriend in Montana in 2008.

The incident involving Perry took place in their bedroom at the lodge on July 21, 1996. It was then ruled accidental. He’s facing first- and second-degree murder charges.

Kowalski says he heard a bear at the bedroom window and grabbed his Mossberg 12-gauge. He tripped over a chord on his way to the window, causing the gun to go off and killing Perry.