A 61-year-old Arizona comedy club owner allegedly murdered his elderly ex-father-in-law in a calculated attack targeting his former family in Alaska, before authorities discovered him dead in nearby woods the following day.
Story Snapshot
- Mathew Thomas Becker traveled from Arizona to Anchorage, shot at his ex-wife at her salon, then killed her 87-year-old father
- Becker tampered with his ex-wife’s salon lock before ambushing her; she escaped and warned police about her father’s safety
- The elderly victim, Romaine Clark, was shot through a window at his daughter’s home where friends discovered his body
- Police found Becker dead in woods near the crime scene the next morning; cause of death remains under investigation
Cross-State Attack Targets Former Family
Mathew Thomas Becker, owner of a comedy club in Bisbee, Arizona, traveled unannounced to Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday morning, March 14, 2026, where he launched a targeted attack against his ex-wife and her family. The 61-year-old first tampered with the lock at his ex-wife’s hair salon, then waited in his vehicle. When she arrived and spotted him, Becker exited his car and opened fire. The woman escaped without injury and immediately contacted authorities, expressing concern for her 87-year-old father, Romaine Clark, who lived with her at her residence.
Elderly Father Killed at Daughter’s Home
Shortly after the salon shooting attempt, Becker drove to his ex-wife’s home where Clark resided. The suspect fired through a rear plate glass window, striking and killing the elderly man inside. Friends who had arrived at the residence to take Clark on a planned outing discovered his body and notified Anchorage police. Anchorage Police Department Chief Sean Case confirmed that preliminary evidence showed Becker specifically targeted the residence following his failed attempt to kill his ex-wife. The brazen daylight attack demonstrated calculated intent, as Becker pursued his victims across multiple locations.
Manhunt Ends with Suspect Found Dead
Anchorage police issued an alert Saturday afternoon warning residents that Becker was armed and dangerous, launching an intensive manhunt. Officers searched the area throughout the night while the community remained on edge. On Sunday morning, March 15, around 10:30 a.m., authorities discovered Becker’s body in woods near the crime scene. The medical examiner has not yet released the cause of death, though circumstances suggest a possible suicide. Becker’s brother confirmed to KTUU that Becker owned a comedy club in Bisbee and had recently received a cancer diagnosis, though no prior criminal history or documented family disputes existed in available records.
Domestic Violence Escalates Across State Lines
This case underscores the dangerous reality that domestic violence does not end with divorce papers. Becker’s willingness to travel over 2,000 miles from Arizona to Alaska demonstrates the extreme lengths some perpetrators will pursue. The attack resulted in an innocent elderly man losing his life simply because he provided his daughter a safe home after her divorce. The ex-wife now faces survivor trauma while processing both her narrow escape and her father’s murder. This tragedy highlights gaps in protections for families navigating post-divorce situations, particularly when former spouses relocate across state lines. Such interstate dynamics complicate threat assessment and protective measures for vulnerable family members.
Investigation Status and Community Impact
The Anchorage Police Department confirmed the homicide of Romaine Clark while awaiting autopsy results on Becker’s death. With the suspect deceased, no arrests are anticipated, effectively closing the criminal case pending final medical examiner findings. The incident traumatized the local community, particularly during the active manhunt when residents faced uncertainty about an armed suspect at large. Clark’s friends who discovered his body and the salon employees who witnessed the initial attack will require support services. This case may influence APD protocols for handling domestic violence cases involving out-of-state perpetrators and multi-location threats, emphasizing the need for rapid coordination when suspects demonstrate clear intent to harm multiple family members.
Sources:
Comedy Club Owner Kills Ex-Wife’s Elderly Father, Later Found Dead in Woods – CrimeOnline
