Manokotak man arrested on murder charge after fishing-site death

A Manokotak man died after a fishing-site altercation near the Igushik River, and a second Manokotak man now faces second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in what Alaska State Troopers are investigating as a criminal homicide.

Troopers were notified of an unresponsive adult male at the site at 4 p.m. on June 26. They determined that Henry Ayojiak, 38, had struck Cody Ayojiak, 35, in the head with an anchor during an altercation between the two men. Both were from Manokotak, a small village in Southwest Alaska.

Cody Ayojiak was medevaced first to a Dillingham hospital, then transferred to an Anchorage facility for higher-level care. He was declared deceased in Anchorage on July 4.

The incident occurred during an active commercial fishing period. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game had announced set gillnet closures and openings for the Igushik Section of the Nushagak District on June 26, the same day troopers were called to the site.

A grand jury indicted Henry Ayojiak on July 9 on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter. He was arrested on July 15, 2026, and remanded to Dillingham Jail. Charges are accusations; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Next of kin have been notified, troopers said.