Monthly Archives: May 2026

The Strange Life and Death of John Martin III



I am always intrigued by people who can’t seem to color inside the lines. Most of us are law-abiding citizens. We might get a traffic ticket occasionally or march in protest against a law or action we think is wrong, but we usually play by the rules. Then there are those who skirt the law at every opportunity. The worst of these are sociopaths, and I’ve written about several who were serial killers. John Martin III committed at least one despicable crime, but most of the time, he just seemed to follow a difficult path through life, doing things many of us would describe as “crazy.” He likely had a mental illness, and I doubt many were surprised when he met with a violent end.

Sources

“Anchorage man charged with manslaughter in July Seward Highway crash that killed Wasilla woman.” February 12, 2015. Anchorage Daily News.

“Anchorage man convicted of murder in homeless advocate’s death.” November 19, 2025. Anchorage Daily News.

Boots, Michelle Theriault. “The improbable voyage of an Anchorage man who tried to sail to China to see his wife and son.” November 29, 2018. Anchorage Daily News.

Burke, Jill. “A homeless camp at Anchorage City Hall.” June 29, 2011. Anchorage Daily News.

Cadotte, Joe and Shannon Cole. “Man shot to death in Anchorage had colorful checkered past. June 16, 2023. KTUU Alaska’s News Source.

“Indictment handed down in July 9th fatal Seward Highway accident.” February 11, 2015. Alaska Native News.

“Jury finds man guilty of killing Anchorage homeless advocate, sex offender in murder trial.” November 19, 2025. KTUU AK News Source.

Maxwell, Lauren. “Jury finds man guilty of killing Anchorage homeless advocate, sex offender in murder trial.” November 19, 2025. KTUU Alaska’s News Source.

Maxwell, Lauren. “Trial underway for man accused of shooting Anchorage homeless advocate, sex offender.” November 12, 2025. KTUU Alaska’s News Source.

Traver, Matthew. “The man who tried to walk from Alaska to China.” February 26, 2019. Explorers Web.

Williams, Tess. “Shooting of man sleeping in South Anchorage parking lot was unprovoked attack, prosecutor says.” June 19, 2023. Anchorage Daily News.

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Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.
Join her on:
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Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com
Check out her books at Amazon

Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com

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Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members.
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Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness.
· Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska

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Brilliant but Violent: The Birdman of Alcatraz



Alcatraz prison in California, built on a small, rocky island in the Bay of San Francisco, operated from the time of the US Civil War in the 1860s until it was closed in 1963. The island’s remote location made it the perfect site for a prison, but this location also made it expensive to maintain, and the cost of maintenance finally led to its closure. During the years it operated, Alcatraz housed many infamous prisoners including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly, but the one prisoner whose nickname is synonymous with the prison is The Birdman of Alcatraz.

Why am I telling you about Alcatraz and its prisoners? Because this episode is about Robert Stroud, better known as the Birdman of Alcatraz. You may not associate Stroud with Alaska, but he was originally incarcerated for a murder he committed in Juneau. Robert Stroud spent 54 years in prison, and he was in solitary confinement for 42 of those years. He is one of Alaska’s most famous criminals.


Sources:

Bovsun, Mara. November 10, 2019. “Justice story: How the ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’ soared to fame.” New York Daily News.

Brennan, Tom. 2001. Murder at 40 Below. Chapter 4: “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Kenmore, WA: Epicenter Press.

Ott, Tim. August 20, 2020. “Robert Stroud.” Biography.

“Robert Franklin Stroud.” n.d. Murderpedia.

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Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier

and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more.

______

Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.
Join her on:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com
Check out her books at Amazon

Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com

___________________________________________

Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.
Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members.
· An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members.
Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness.
· Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska

_______________________________________________________________

Merchandise! Visit the Store