In 1993, the sudden disappearance of a polarizing politician in Alaska prompted authorities to search for leads. But it took more than a year before the mystery was completely solved. Survey discovery’‘Ice Cold Killers: Guns, Gold & Murder’ invites the creators to reflect on the murder of Joseph E. Vogler in Fairbanks, Alaska. The lengthy investigation gave rise to many rumors and conspiracy theories, but it was actually a senseless murder. So, let’s find out what happened next, shall we?

How did Joseph E. Vogler die?

Joseph moved from the family farm in Kansas to Alaska in 1942. A former gold miner and influential politician, Joseph founded the Alaska Independence Party in 1973 and wanted the state to secede. At the time, he had as many followers as enemies. The 80-year-old lived in a remote cabin in Fairbanks and was reeling from the loss of his wife, Doris, who had died about a year and a half earlier.

On June 1, 1993, a friend of Joseph’s called the authorities after not hearing from him for a few days. Joseph’s car was still parked in front of the cabin and the house seemed locked. Efforts to find the politician turned into an effort to recover his remains as the days turned into weeks and months. Eventually, with additional information, Joseph’s body was found buried in a shallow grave in a wooded area a few miles from Fairbanks. He was wrapped in a blue tarp and duct tape.

Who Killed Joseph E. Volger?

The friend who called the police said he had spoken to Joseph on the phone about two days earlier. At the time, Joseph cut the conversation short when someone was at the door. Since then, no one had seen or heard of him. Authorities looked into various possibilities: Joseph was known to have hidden a lot of gold and silver, so a financial motive was investigated. Moreover, his political ideas also attracted enemies, leading to speculation of his death.

However, the deal hit a wall until a tip arrived a few months later. According to the show, a man called to say someone had borrowed his truck to go to Fairbanks at the time of Joseph’s disappearance. When the car was returned it was repainted and had a bullet hole in it. The person who took the vehicle was eventually identified as Manfried West, a petty criminal who moved to Alaska in 1980.

Manfried had been released from a halfway house after serving time for violating the terms of his probation. Then aged around 38, he was found at his half-brother’s home in Fairbanks in May 1994. Once authorities surrounded the place, Manfried claimed he was armed and refused to come out of home, resulting in a stalemate. He then set the house on fire but miraculously survived.

Once in custody, Manfried admitted to killing Joseph. He claimed the 80-year-old wanted to buy plastic explosives from him, but the deal didn’t go as planned. According to the show, Manfried claimed an argument ensued with Joseph firing a warning shot in the air and then into the truck before turning around. Manfried then shot him in the back, wrapped him in blue tarpaulin and buried him.

Where is Manfried West now?

Despite the confession, it was stated on the show that Manfried refused to disclose where he buried Joseph’s body. However, he told his cellmate, who then led police to the scene in October 1994. Joseph was in a shallow grave outside Fairbanks. Ultimately, Manfried did not contest Joseph’s murder. He was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to 80 years behind bars. His last known location, according to a 2016 report, was the Palmer Correctional Center in Sutton.

Read more: How did David Stephens die?