Christopher Popps, 54, was arrested on July 16, 2026, in Michigan on a second-degree murder charge related to the 1993 death of Patrick Dearth in Alaska. Dearth, 34 at the time, was reported missing in November 1993 in Fairbanks, Alaska, and his whereabouts remained unknown for over three decades.

Authorities reopened the case after receiving an initially anonymous tip in January 2025. The tipster took responsibility for Dearth’s disappearance and disclosed the location of his remains. Investigators later identified the tipster as Popps. In May 2025, Dearth’s remains were recovered from a barrel at the bottom of a steep highway embankment, at the location Popps had indicated.

According to Alaska Public Media, citing state police spokesperson Austin McDaniel, Popps and Dearth were colleagues at an auto shop. McDaniel reported that Popps allegedly shot Dearth during an altercation at their workplace.

State police noted that the search for Dearth’s body was delayed by about four months due to snow covering the area at the time of the tip. Popps was booked into the Kalamazoo County jail near Battle Creek following his arrest.

The case had remained unsolved for more than 30 years until these recent developments.

Sources