The Latest: Trooper says Palmer teen was beaten, shot

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on the investigation of a missing Palmer teenager. (all times local):

2 p.m.

A criminal complaint filed in the death of a Palmer teenager says the boy was pistol-whipped by an acquaintance, driven to a remote location and shot.

An Alaska State Trooper filed the complaint in the criminal case against 16-year-old Erick Almandinger of Palmer.

He’s charged as an adult with kidnapping and first-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old David Grunwald.

Grunwald failed to return home after dropping off his girlfriend Nov. 13.

Troopers contacted Almandinger after reports that Grunwald had offered to drive Almandinger to Anchorage that night.

Almandinger at first denied being with Grunwald but later acknowledged he smoked marijuana with him in a camper parked at Almandinger’s house.

Almandinger claimed another teen beat Grunwald, drove him to a remote location and shot him.

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9:45 a.m.

Nearly 200 people turned out for a vigil honouring a Palmer teenager missing since Nov. 13.

Alaska State Troopers announced Saturday they had recovered remains believed to be those of 16-year-old David Grunwald southeast of Palmer.

The teen’s burned sport utility vehicle previously had been found near Wasilla.

Anchorage television station KTVA (http://bit.ly/2g0T72c) reports the vigil was organized Saturday night at the Palmer Train Depot.

Grunwald’s classmates and teachers at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School and others gathered to share memories of the teenager.

Sixteen-year-old Erick Almandinger of Palmer has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the case.

Almandinger was arraigned Saturday. Online court records do not list an attorney for Almandinger. He remained jailed Monday at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility.