Troopers say they suspect no foul play in death of 75-year-old Saxman woman

Ann McEachern, 75, died Saturday, Oct. 24, at her home in Saxman after troopers and medics could not revive her, Alaska State Troopers said Monday. Troopers said they do not suspect foul play.

Troopers got a report at 2:41 pm Saturday that a woman in Saxman had been found not breathing. Troopers and emergency medical workers from the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department went to the home. They found McEachern, a Saxman resident, not breathing.

They tried life-saving measures, but the measures did not work. McEachern was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin was at the scene.

Troopers contacted the State Medical Examiner's Office. McEachern's remains were released to her family.

Saxman is a city of 387 people in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, according to the state's 2025 count. The borough, which also includes Ketchikan and Ward Cove, had 13,377 people in 2025.

Troopers posted their account of the death Monday in the Department of Public Safety daily dispatch.