An Alaska jury convicted an Anchorage Washington man guilty of the killing of his lover and friend lover, who was a prominent Ketchikan surgeon.
Jordan Joplin, 38, was found guilty of first and second-degree murder, as well as first-degree theft. Ketchikan police discovered Dr. Eric Garcia, 58, deceased at his home in the month of March 2017 after Joplin phoned to request the welfare check.
Patty Sullivan, a spokesperson for the State’s Department of Law, confirmed the verdict to KRBD on Thursday. Joplin’s sentencing will be scheduled for October. 5 as per Sullivan.
“He could be sentenced to one year of prison, which is minimum 30 years, and not greater than 101 years.” Sullivan wrote to KRBD.
Following an autopsy that was unable to reveal any definitive evidence of the manner in which Garcia passed away the toxicology examination was scheduled.
A statement by the Department of Law, released during the trial’s opening arguments, stated that Garcia died of an fatal dose of Morphine. Other substances, such as diazepam, methadone, and lorazepam were discovered in his system.
This statement claimed that Joplin was the subject of a video that showed Garcia unconscious and wearing the same clothing and position the way he had been found dead. It also stated that Joplin attempted to transport around 4000 pounds of Garcia’s possessions to Washington.
Erin McCarthy, an assistant attorney general of the department, informed KRBD that Joplin was in a relationship with Garcia over six years prior to the time the surgeon passed away.
