This episode was originally released on our sister podcast Vanished Voices, where we focus on under-reported cases and victims who too often go unheard — including Indigenous women, LGBTQ+ victims, and other marginalized communities. For crossover week, we’re sharing it here on the Crime Clueless feed so our listeners don’t miss this powerful story.

If you connect with this episode and want more cases like Sonya Ivanoff — deep research, advocacy-driven storytelling, and a spotlight on the missing and murdered who deserve attention — make sure to follow Vanished Voices wherever you get your podcasts.

In August of 2003, nineteen-year-old Sonya Ivanoff walked home through the quiet streets of Nome, Alaska — a college student, basketball player, and proud Inupiaq woman with her whole life ahead of her. Two days later, her body was found on the edge of town.

The man responsible wasn’t a stranger. He was one sworn to protect.
In this episode, we share Sonya’s story — who she was before that night, what happened in the investigation that followed, and how her murder exposed a painful truth about the vulnerability of Indigenous women in Alaska.

Through her family’s words, community outrage, and the lasting impact of her case, we examine how trust in law enforcement was shattered, and what it revealed about the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Her name was Sonya Ivanoff. And her story deserves to be remembered.

To learn more about this case, as well as the sources used to create this episode, visit our Blog Here.

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