Palmer jury convicts Michael Melendez of first-degree murder in Trapper Creek lodge stabbing

A Palmer jury convicted Michael Melendez, 36, of first-degree murder Tuesday in the 2023 killing of Jose Torres Ayala, a 21-year-old server at the 20320 Alaskan Grill in Trapper Creek. The jury also returned two counts of second-degree murder.

Melendez faces 30 to 99 years on the first-degree count. A defendant convicted of first-degree murder "shall be sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of at least 30 years but not more than 99 years," according to Alaska Statute 12.55.125. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2027, at 8:30 a.m. before Superior Court Judge John Cagle.

The Alaska Department of Law said evidence at trial showed Melendez, a former employee of the restaurant inside the McKinley Princess Lodge, entered through a back kitchen door on Aug. 7, 2023, took an eight-inch chef knife from a sink area, and followed Torres Ayala into the dining room. Torres Ayala had sat down to eat breakfast. A witness in the dining room saw Melendez stabbing him repeatedly, the department said. Melendez left through the front door and was detained by other staff.

Torres Ayala had at least ten stab wounds to his head, arm, clavicle and chest, along with severe defensive injuries to his hands. Guests, lodge staff, EMS and LifeMed attempted life-saving measures. He died of his injuries.

Assistant District Attorneys Lindsey Burton and Lauren Taylor prosecuted the case. Investigator Adam Hawkins of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.

Defense counsel challenged that account at trial, raising self-defense and mental-health issues and asking jurors to convict Melendez of a lesser charge than first-degree murder. The attorney is not named in the state's account. That account reflects only the prosecution's version of events, and the record available for this article does not include the defense's evidence or arguments beyond the positions attorneys took at trial.

Torres Ayala's family may address the court in January. Alaska law lets crime victims be heard at sentencing on request, and a victim impact statement is prepared as part of the pre-sentence report under Alaska Statute 12.55.022. The state Office of Victims' Rights provides free legal help to crime victims.