Lonesome Death of Beth van Zanten: Elsie Young

Greg Nicholas was good friends with the Young family who, like him, were Alaska Natives. They were with him when his car hit a moose. One of them, Elsie Young, was allegedly with him at the Montana Club on the night Beth went missing. It made sense to interview them and confirm — or repudiate — Greg’s story. As with everything else, troopers got a little of both.

But by the time they finished with Elsie, the alarms were going off, if not loudly, then with a persistent, annoying hum.

Elsie
The Young’s were with Greg Nicholas when he hit a moose near Naptowne.


INTERVIEW: David Young, Wednesday, December 29, 1971 (Investigator Benson)
“On Wednesday my sister (Elsie Young) saw him (Greg) in the Montana Club. She told me she saw Greg.” [Wednesday, December 22, was the night Beth went missing]

INTERVIEW: Elsie Young, Monday, January 3, 1972 (Investigator Zaruba)
“Around 9:00 pm on 12/22/71 I ran into Greg Nicholas at the Montana Tavern (sic). He was with his cousin Ron someone. There were four of us sitting a a table: Wassilie Wassilie, Mary Schofield, Clifford Dolchock and myself.

“Greg and his cousin came into the bar. They came over and were talking to us. They ordered drinks. Greg had a Christian Bros. straight. His cousin had whisky and water… We sat and talked for about two hours…

“[And then] on Sunday [January 2] around midnight I was home asleep on the couch when Greg came over and pounded on the door. I let him in and he appeared as though he was running. He said the cops were suspecting him of killing his cousin and he wanted me to say that on the night of 12/22/71 I was with him from 9:00 pm until midnight, and he told me that I wouldn’t be involved in this and not to be scared.

Greg looked scared at the time. He said he really wanted me to help him and to speak nothing but the truth.

“This morning Greg came over to my house and we talked. He said the cops were suspecting him of killing the girl and that they suspected him of drugs. I asked him how he and his cousin got along and he said they just didn’t get along and that they just roomed next to each other. He said he had tried to be nice to her and talk to her and then he dropped the subject.

“Greg had a knife in a pouch on his belt when I saw him on 12/22/71 and also in Kenai [when they hit the moose], because he cut a piece of tape for me. I don’t know if he still has the knife.”

That Greg was afraid the cops suspected him in Beth’s murder raised the possibility he had a reason to be scared. That he had a knife was significant: Beth had been slashed across the chest, with knife marks between her breasts.

Elsie Young deserved another interview. More than anything, troopers wanted her to confirm the timeline of her interactions with Greg. At this point, the timeline was everything. Was it possible that she was with Greg on a different day?

RE-INTERVIEW: Elsie Young, Tuesday, January 4, 1972 (Investigator Zaruba)
“I know I was in the Montana on 22 December because that was the same day I broke up with my boyfriend. There is no way I could be mistaken about the date.

“I know I met Greg in the bar at 9:00 pm because Wassili picked me up at 8:00 pm and we drove around until about 9:00 pm. Then we went to the Montana.

“I’m certain Greg took me home at 12:00 pm because I checked my watch for the time because I had to go to work the next day. I was with Greg all that time. I did not see Beth van Zanten.

“Everything I have told you in both my statements is true. I will take a polygraph exam.”

Zaruba: When was the last time you talked to Greg?

Elsie Young: Greg called from the Tiki Room last night at 6:00 pm.

(cont.) “Monday morning at 9:00 am Greg gave me $20 for cab fare to come out and see you. Greg never gave me any money before Monday morning and he has never given me any money since. Greg did not ask me to tell you any lies at all; however, he did say if they ask you if I gave you any money, don’t tell them.”


Purchase Butcher, Baker

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