Young Woman Self Exits W/ Gun Longer Than Arms In Mayor's Home - 2 Yrs Later Another Girl Is Dead

Summary of Young Woman Self Exits W/ Gun Longer Than Arms In Mayor's Home - 2 Yrs Later Another Girl Is Dead

by Stephanie Soo

1h 12m•March 26, 2026
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Overview of "Young Woman Self Exits W/ Gun Longer Than Arms In Mayor's Home - 2 Yrs Later Another Girl Is Dead" (Stephanie Soo)

This episode examines two suspicious deaths connected to the home of Clement Richards Sr., mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough (Kaktovik/Kotzebue area context), and the pattern of domestic violence, alleged institutional neglect, and possible cover-up that followed. It weaves local geography and social context (life above the Arctic Circle, high rates of violence against Indigenous women), the 2018 death of Jennifer Kirk, the 2020 death of Susanna “Susu” Norton, earlier and subsequent domestic-abuse reports involving the mayor’s family, and how local law enforcement and prosecutors handled (or failed to handle) these cases. The episode references a major investigative report from ProPublica and the Anchorage Daily News by Kyle Hopkins.

Key takeaways

  • Two women were found dead inside the mayor’s house (2018: Jennifer Kirk; 2020: Susu Norton). Both deaths involved strangulation marks; Jennifer also suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
  • Jennifer Kirk’s death was quickly ruled a “self-exit” (suicide) by local police despite:
    • Visible handprints/strangulation marks on her neck.
    • A rifle whose measured length (barrel tip to trigger) exceeded Jennifer’s arm length in initial police notes, raising questions about physical feasibility of self-inflicted shooting.
    • A boyfriend (Anthony Richards, the mayor’s son) with documented history of domestic violence who was present at the scene and covered in blood.
  • The local investigation of Jennifer was reportedly closed within one day (police chief later claimed “16 days”), sparking family and community outrage.
  • Two years later Susu Norton (also found in the mayor’s house) was strangled. Her case reportedly received minimal local investigative follow-through; state troopers’ promised investigation and FOIA transparency were delayed or absent.
  • The mayor, Clement Richards Sr., and his three adult sons have long histories of domestic-violence allegations and criminal cases (combined dozens of cases, many reduced or dismissed). The mayor himself previously pled no contest to felony domestic violence and served six months in jail.
  • Local judges and prosecutors repeatedly reduced bail/charges or negotiated plea deals for the mayor’s sons, often citing family ties or community standing—raising concerns about conflicts of interest and unequal justice.
  • The broader backdrop: Alaska (especially rural, majority-Indigenous communities) has extremely high rates of violence against Indigenous women and severe undercounting/mishandling of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases.

Timeline (concise)

2017–May 2018

  • Multiple prior DV incidents reported involving Anthony Richards and Jennifer Kirk (including strangulation reports, visible injuries; Anthony arrested for probation violation at one point).
  • May 2018: Jennifer Kirk (25) found shot under her chin in the mayor’s house; Anthony was present, covered in blood. Police quickly deemed it a self-exit; autopsy later shows strangulation marks/handprints.

Sept 2018

  • Ashley Johnson-Barr (10) goes missing from Kotzebue; discovered murdered days later. The case received wide mobilization of resources and coverage. Peter Vance Wilson was arrested and convicted. The episode uses Ashley’s case as a contrast of resource mobilization vs. the treatment of Indigenous women like Jennifer and Susu.

March 9, 2020

  • Susanna “Susu” Norton (30) found beaten and strangled in the mayor’s house. Investigation and communication with family appeared stalled/delayed. State troopers reportedly later took over, but families say investigators never came.

2018–2022 (ongoing)

  • Multiple reports of physical assaults, strangulation, pregnancy-related assaults, and other domestic-violence incidents involving the mayor and his sons; many charges downgraded or dropped. Questions raised about prosecutorial neutrality, judicial leniency, and influence.

People & entities involved

  • Clement Richards Sr. — Former mayor (strong-mayor system), convicted on a felony domestic-violence charge prior to being elected; accused of political corruption (controversial $60M contract push) and alleged attempts to suppress damaging material.
  • Anthony Richards — Youngest son; boyfriend of Jennifer Kirk; present at scene of Jennifer’s death; has multiple DV-related complaints and later arrests.
  • Amos Richards — Eldest son; accused of abusing Susu Norton while she was pregnant.
  • Clement Richards Jr. — Middle son; reported assaults and harassment.
  • Jennifer Kirk — Found dead May 2018; family rejects suicide ruling; autopsy notes strangulation marks and gunshot wound.
  • Susanna “Susu” Norton — Found dead March 2020; strangulation cited; family says minimal investigation occurred.
  • Local police department / chief — Criticized for fast closure of Jennifer’s case, contradictions in statements, delayed responses to FOIA requests, and failure to sufficiently investigate multiple related DV incidents.
  • Alaska State Troopers & Alaska Bureau of Investigations — Took over or were reported to be involved later, but families say promised on-site work and communication did not happen as claimed.
  • ProPublica & Anchorage Daily News (reporter Kyle Hopkins) — Conducted investigative reporting exposing patterns, prompting public scrutiny.

Evidence, investigative shortcomings & inconsistencies

  • Physical evidence:
    • Autopsy: red markings and clear handprints on Jennifer’s neck — indicative of strangulation before death.
    • Police measurement: reported rifle measurement initially larger than Jennifer’s arm length (raised questions about the feasibility of a self-inflicted shooting). Later official statements claimed measurements proved she could have shot herself — inconsistencies unexplained.
  • Investigative failures:
    • Case closed very rapidly (one day according to public records; police chief later claimed 16 days).
    • No thorough interrogation, GSR testing, or forensic follow-up of Anthony despite him being covered in blood.
    • No broad canvassing, witness interviews, or aggressive evidence collection reported.
    • FOIA requests delayed or denied citing “ongoing investigation,” yet families/reporters say no substantive activity occurred.
    • Multiple DV complaints involving the mayor’s family saw charges reduced, low bail, and plea deals—often with judges citing the family’s standing or requesting “third-party” (i.e., family) sureties.
  • Institutional concerns:
    • Allegations of favoritism, intimidation, or influence due to mayor’s political power and family ties to local officials (wife formerly worked with troopers/prosecutors, judges and staff in small community).
    • Pattern of under-resourcing or deprioritizing cases involving Indigenous women compared to other high-profile cases (e.g., Ashley Johnson-Barr search mobilization contrasted with local handling of Jennifer and Susu).
    • Broader systemic issue: undercounting and poor tracking of missing/murdered Indigenous people nationally and in Alaska.

Reporting, accountability & community reaction

  • Investigative journalism (ProPublica + Anchorage Daily News) exposed contradictions, timelines, and community accounts, prompting renewed scrutiny.
  • Family members publicly dispute official narratives and say they were not adequately informed, interviewed, or provided recordings/files.
  • Local police chief released a letter defending investigative efforts but provided contradictory timelines and details when pressed by reporters.
  • Community frustration: perceived “culture of silence” and that local power dynamics prevent accountability. Families and advocates urge broader attention and assert institutional racism and systemic neglect in MMIP cases.

Notable quotes (from episode)

  • “When an Indigenous woman disappears, she disappears three times: in life, in the media, and then in the data.” (paraphrase of the episode’s point)
  • Reported viral reaction to Mayor Marion Barry’s arrest (used as political analogy): “Goddamn bitch set me up” — invoked to discuss how public perceptions can enable a politician’s comeback despite scandals.
  • Judge handling one Richards son’s case: admonished strangulation as serious, but also said the defendant was “dodging a bullet,” and tied bail decisions to the family’s standing—examples cited to show problematic judicial reasoning.

Actions suggested by the episode / recommended next steps (for listeners who want to help)

  • Read the ProPublica/Anchorage Daily News reporting (Kyle Hopkins) for the full investigative detail.
  • If local to the area or with credible information: submit tips to Alaska State Troopers or designated MMIP units; encourage transparency and independent review.
  • Support Indigenous-led organizations and legal-advocacy groups working on MMIP and domestic-violence response in Alaska (episode mentions a regional nonprofit—the Maniilaq Association—and the broader need for culturally relevant services).
  • Push for independent, external investigations when local power dynamics may hinder impartial inquiry (state/federal oversight).
  • Raise awareness about systemic failures: advocate for better MMIP data collection, survivor-centered policies, and rigorous prosecution of strangulation/domestic-violence cases.

Context & trigger warnings

  • Content includes detailed discussion of sexual assault, strangulation, domestic violence, murder, and systemic neglect of Indigenous victims. The episode repeatedly highlights the disproportionate danger faced by Indigenous women in Alaska and the U.S.
  • If these topics may be distressing, consider pausing or seeking support resources in your area.

Sources & further reading (as referenced in episode)

  • ProPublica + Anchorage Daily News investigative reporting (Kyle Hopkins) on the Kotzebue/Katsubue cases and related systemic issues.
  • Maniilaq Association — indigenous-operated nonprofit providing regional health and social services (mentioned as a supported organization).
  • Reporting on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) data challenges and Alaska’s disproportionate rates of violence against Indigenous women.

Summary note: The episode presents a pattern of troubling facts, conflicting official statements, and community testimony that together suggest serious flaws in how these deaths and related domestic-violence allegations were handled. It calls for increased transparency, independent investigation, and more consistent protection and justice for Indigenous women.