Investigation Completed After Human Remains Discovered in Freezer

The Juneau Police Department has completed its investigation into human remains discovered inside a freezer at a residence in Switzer Village. The deceased was positively identified as Ross Anthony Pasquan, a Juneau resident who would have been 74 years old at the time of the discovery of his remains.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Pasquan died of natural causes related to severe cardiovascular disease. Investigators did not establish an exact date of his death or how long his remains had been inside the freezer.

The investigation found that Pasquan’s wife, Sheryl Ann McDonald-Pasquan, concealed his death and continued applying for and receiving benefits in his name. McDonald-Pasquan died from natural causes on July 14, 2025, approximately one year before her husband’s remains were discovered.

Discovery and Investigation

On July 19, 2026, at approximately 7:59 p.m., an individual came to JPD to report a possible body inside a chest freezer at McDonald-Pasquan’s property in the 6500 block of Glacier Highway.

The individual had been cleaning out the property following McDonald-Pasquan’s death. Inside a storage shed, they discovered a locked freezer. After locating a key and opening it, they observed a tarp-wrapped object that appeared to contain human remains. They closed the freezer and went directly to JPD.

Responding officers and investigators confirmed the presence of human remains, which were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage. On July 25, 2026, the remains were positively identified as Pasquan.

Witness interviews indicated that Pasquan had a history of significant health problems and that McDonald-Pasquan served as his primary caregiver. Witnesses said she explained his absence by telling them he had been moved to a care facility outside Juneau.

Based on the freezer being manufactured in 2018 and McDonald-Pasquan’s death in July 2025, investigators believe Pasquan's remains were placed in the freezer between those dates. Investigators were not able to establish a reliable timeline and could not determine when Pasquan died or precisely when his remains were placed in the freezer.

Pasquan had not been reported missing before the discovery of his remains.

Benefits and Investigation Findings

Witness interviews and a review of benefit records supported the conclusion that McDonald-Pasquan concealed her husband’s death while continuing to apply for and receive benefits in his name, including Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends, Social Security benefits, and retirement benefits. Investigators also learned that a retirement benefit provider had not been notified of his death and was still depositing monthly payments into Pasquan’s account up until July 2026.

Investigators found no evidence that another person caused Pasquan’s death or assisted McDonald-Pasquan in concealing his remains or collecting his benefits.

The death investigation is closed following the medical examiner’s determination that Pasquan died of natural causes. The investigation into McDonald-Pasquan’s collection of benefits after his death is also closed because she is deceased.