Hotel Worker Arrested on Charges of Fatally Stabbing Co-worker in Trapper Creek
One man is dead, and another is in custody after a fatal stabbing at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge on Monday. According to a dispatch released Tuesday morning, the
One man is dead, and another is in custody after a fatal stabbing at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge on Monday.
According to a dispatch released Tuesday morning, the Alaska State Troopers were called to the hotel shortly after 10:00 am Monday morning. According to Troopers, 21-year-old Jose Torres-Ayala of Florida had been stabbed. Torres-Ayala was medevaced from the lodge, but was later declared deceased.
The case was turned over to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, who arrested 33-year-old Michael Melendez for the stabbing. Melendez has been charged with First and Second Degree Murder. Melendez and Torres-Ayala were both employees at the lodge.
Troopers say the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Read More
KTNA App Update: Refined Experience & Enhanced Reliability
We’ve just rolled out a significant update to the KTNA mobile app to ensure a smoother, more premium experience for every listener.
Susitna Writer Voice - July 19, 2026, One Line at a Time, bookclub poetry.
The next Susitna Writers Voice will take us through the seasons with 4 “one line at a time” collaborative poems written by a local bookclub. This piece was produced by
Welcome to the New KTNA Site
Explore KTNA’s newly redesigned website, featuring easier navigation, improved access to live radio and recent broadcasts, and clearer ways to find local news, community updates, programs, and station information.
Yaks Run Loose on Talkeetna Spur Road
At least twice this summer, yaks have been spotted running loose along the Talkeetna Spur Road. Mat-Su Borough Animal Control has opened a case for multiple reports about the loose