Location: Nome, Alaska, USA

Date of Disappearance: August 11, 2003

Victim: Sonya Ivanoff (19), Alaska Native

A Life Full of Promise

Sonya Ivanoff was a vibrant 19-year-old Inupiaq woman, left her hometown of Unalakleet to seize new opportunities in Nome, a remote Alaska village of around 3,800 people. 

A standout on the high school basketball court, she had hopes of attending college. 

In Nome, Sonya supported herself working at the local hospital and shared a home with her best friend, Timayre Towarak, who described her as loyal, ambitious, and bright.

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The Fateful Night

On August 10, 2003, Sonya and Timayre spent an evening with friends. 

Around 1 a.m., they parted ways: Timayre left for a friend’s home; Sonya chose to walk back to their shared residence. 

Witnesses say she was walking in the rain, wearing a sweater and jeans.

When Sonya didn’t return the next morning, Timayre reported her missing. 

The Nome Police Department initially took her absence lightly, counting on the town’s tight-knit, low-crime reputation.

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A Brutal Discovery

On August 12, 2003, a volunteer firefighter followed fresh tire tracks on a gravel road leading to an abandoned mining site. 

There, they found Sonya’s naked body, shot once in the back of the head and showing signs of assault. 

This horrific discovery was contained overnight by state investigators due to Nome’s limited police resources.

A Sinister Twist

At the crime scene investigators noted:

• Tire treads indicating a vehicle with mismatched tires drove through the blood.
• A smear of light blue paint matching Sonya’s sweater.
• Her clothes were missing only one sock remained.

Early investigation focused on a local acquaintance named “Koonuk,” owner of a truck matching the tire pattern. 

However, blood inside the truck proved animal, not human, and he was ruled out based on his alibi.

The Nome PD Connection

A breakthrough emerged when a local woman, Florence Habros, came forward saying she saw Sonya enter a police SUV just before her death. 

The officer drove off with Sonya as a passenger. 

The SUV went missing briefly; when recovered, it contained a note addressed to “pigs,” a key, and Sonya’s ID card. 

Investigators believed the note was possibly a staged attempt to mislead the investigation.

Enter Matthew Owens

Attention turned to Officer Matthew Owens, one of two officers on duty that night. Owens:

• Frequently stopped and picked up young women.
• Was unaccounted for during the time Sonya disappeared.
• Failed a polygraph and exhibited suspicious behavior regarding the lost SUV

Further evidence tied Owens to the crime:

• Sonya’s shoe eyelet and a charred jeans button were recovered from a burn pit near Coffee Creek a location tied to Owens.
• Investigators believed Owens stole a firearm from the station’s armory and concealed his actions under false alarms and planted evidence .

Trial and Conviction

Initially, no charges were filed against Owens, but pressure mounted from the public and local advocacy groups concerned for Indigenous women’s safety . 

Owens was eventually charged with murder and evidence tampering, tried twice first ending in a mistrial but in December 2005, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to prison .

Sonya Ivanoff’s murder exposed deep flaws within Nome’s police and justice systems:

• The case triggered national attention toward Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women 
• Survivors came forward, alleging Owens had assaulted other Native women, emboldened by perceived racial indifference 
• The Nome PD faced increased scrutiny and calls for transparency and reform 

At just 19, Sonya was robbed not only of her life but of her potential. 

She was praised for her warmth, ambition, and community spirit attributes tragically cut short by betrayal from authority.

If you wish to learn more or support Indigenous women’s safety initiatives, consider reaching out to:

• Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center
• American Indian College Fund