New Developments in 30-Year-Old Alaska Mystery

After over three decades of silence, a confession has reignited interest in a cold case involving a man who disappeared from Alaska. This confession ultimately led to the identification of a suspect in the murder.

Christopher Popps, now 54 years old and hailing from Michigan, was originally arrested in 1993 after law enforcement connected him to a confession regarding the shooting death of his former co-worker, Patrick Orville Diaz. Reports indicate that he disposed of Diaz’s body in a barrel located off a remote highway.

Diaz vanished in November 1993, prompting a missing persons report to be filed with the Fairbanks Police Department. For many years, investigators were left without substantial leads.

The case saw a turning point on January 22, 2025, when Alaska State Troopers received an anonymous tip from someone claiming responsibility for a murder in the Fairbanks area that occurred in 1993. This information prompted the Alaska State Bureau of Investigation’s Cold Case Unit to take charge. However, a lack of visibility due to snow and short daylight hours delayed immediate searching in the area, as noted by Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel.

In May 2025, when investigators were finally able to return, they discovered human remains inside a barrel near Mile 47 of the Steeds Highway.

Subsequent identification by the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the remains were those of Diaz, ruling his death a homicide.

Further investigation revealed that Popps was the anonymous tipster who had contacted multiple law enforcement agencies in Alaska regarding Diaz’s demise.

While the reasons behind Popps’ delayed confession remain unclear, authorities noted that he had mentioned an altercation at the auto shop where he and Diaz had previously worked together, which apparently escalated into violence.

As a result of the investigation, a Fairbanks grand jury indicted Popps on two counts of second-degree murder on June 25, 2026. An arrest warrant was issued that same day.

Pops was apprehended by Michigan State Police near Kalamazoo on July 16 and is currently incarcerated in Kalamazoo County as he awaits extradition to Alaska.

As of now, there are no public details about legal representation for Popps in Alaska court records, nor have any subsequent hearings been scheduled.