Two 16-Year-Old Sweethearts Vanished From Their Homes in Alaska. Hours Later, They Were Found Dead in the Woods

Two 16-year-old teenagers went missing from their homes in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 31. By that afternoon, police had found Leotis “Leo” Phillips and Zoey “Z” Clark dead in a wooded area near their school.

According to the Juneau Police Department, Phillips was reported missing from his home at 5:52 a.m., followed by Clark at 8:49 a.m. Police said they believed the two were together and may have had access to a firearm.

At about 2:25 p.m., officers found the teenagers deceased in a wooded area above the 6800 block of Glacier Highway. Police said preliminary information indicated that both teenagers died from gunshot wounds, and officers found a firearm nearby. Authorities sent their bodies to the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for autopsies, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Friends and Family Gathered to Remember the Teenagers

Just two days later, more than 150 people gathered at the Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School campus for a candlelight vigil. Family members, friends, teachers and classmates came together to remember the two teenagers and support their families.

Phillips’ uncle, Eli Phillips, opened the vigil with a prayer, according to KTOO. Those who knew Leo described him as a loyal friend who liked to make people laugh, including with what one person described as his “dad jokes.”

Clark’s cousin, Ariah Clark, spoke about the relationship between the two teenagers and how much they meant to each other. “The happiest I saw him was with her,” she said. Ariah also said Phillips had been there for Clark through difficult experiences.

Loved ones described Clark as bright, kind and protective of others. Family members said Clark loved art and drawing, participated in Lego Robotics and dreamed of attending culinary school.

Clark’s father, Zac Clark, said he was struggling to understand what had happened. “There are still so many answers that a lot of us need,” he said at the vigil.

Phillips’ grandmother, Bobbiebo Johnson, also shared her grief on Facebook, writing that she never imagined she would be the one writing an obituary for her oldest grandson.

The Juneau School District said counseling and support services would be available to students and staff following the deaths.

For Zac, seeing so many of his child’s friends at the vigil was meaningful. “This is all I’ve wanted,” he said. “I just wanted to see if my kid was loved by people, and her friends showing up, it shows me that she was loved.”

Police have not said where the firearm came from or provided additional details about what happened after the teenagers left their homes. They also have not publicly determined the official manner of death.

The investigation is continuing.

Juneau Is Making More Support Available to Students

The Juneau School District has made counseling and crisis support available to students and staff following the teenagers’ deaths. Superintendent Shawn Arnold told KTOO that crisis counselors were working in some schools and that staff were reaching out to students who might be struggling.

Local organizations are also stepping in. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is providing counselors and behavioral specialists, while some schools are using talking circles to give students space to process what happened.

Two Juneau high schools have teen health centers offering free physical and mental health services to people ages 13 to 20. JAMHI Health and Wellness also offered free walk-in counseling following the deaths, while local crisis lines remain available.

The response comes as Juneau enters September, which is Suicide Prevention Month. NAMI Juneau had already planned several prevention events for the month, including a community picnic on Sept. 12.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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