Indiana man arrested in Talkeetna to be extradited

Alaska State Troopers and the Fugitive Task Force apprehended two people staying in a cabin off the Talkeetna River on Thursday.

Troopers say they had been investigating the location of Nathan Dalton, 35, from Indiana and Katherine Cook, 25 also of Indiana, for several months after receiving information that Dalton had a warrant from Indiana for murder and failure to appear in court.(*** this is incorrect – the warrant was for probation violation – read further for the correction)

Troopers and the task force responded to the area on snowmachine and arrested Dalton. Cook was also arrested for hindering prosecution, due to her knowledge that Dalton had an arrest warrant and aided him to avoid prosecution.  Marijuana plants were also located at the cabin and investigation is continuing into a possible charge of misconduct involving controlled substance.

Dalton was arrested for murder in 2004 stemming from an incident with a girlfriend. Dalton, at that time, fled to Alaska and was then extradited.  Prosecutors tried to prove through the autopsy that Dalton had murdered his girlfriend by suffocating her.   He faced the court in Indiana, and the charge was reduced to ‘criminal recklessness leading to death’. Prosecutor Kent Apsley, of Shelby County, Indiana says Dalton served approximately 4 years in prison and Apsley says the current warrant is actually for a violation of probation.  Dalton’s probation officer had recommended that Dalton have his probation revoked, at which time Dalton fled to Talkeetna.

Dalton is known around Talkeetna as “Tattoo Nate” and it is believed that he has been in the area for about 2 years.

According to troopers, Dalton is in now in custody at an Alaska correctional facility until he is flown back to Indiana.

copy of court proceedings in Indiana