The Fairbanks Four: Murder, Injustice, and the Birth of a Movement

Summary

One murder, four guilty convictions, and a community determined to find justice

OCTOBER 1997. Late one night in Fairbanks, Alaska, a passerby finds a teenager unconscious, collapsed on the edge of the road, and beaten nearly beyond recognition. His name is John Gilbert Hartman, and he’s just turned fifteen years old. Two days later, he dies in the hospital. The police quickly arrest four suspects, all under the age of twenty-one and of Alaska Native and American Indian descent. Police line up witnesses, trials follow, and all four men receive lengthy prison terms. Case closed.

But journalist Brian Patrick O’Donoghue can’t put the story out of his mind. When the opportunity arises to teach a class on investigative reporting, he finally digs into what happened to the “Fairbanks Four.” A relentless search for the truth ensues as O’Donoghue and his students uncover the lies, deceit, and prejudice that put four innocent young men in jail.

The Fairbanks Four is the gripping story of a brutal crime and its sprawling aftermath in the frigid Alaska landscape. It’s a story of collective action as one journalist, his students, and the Fairbanks Indigenous community challenge the verdicts. It’s the story of a broken justice system and the effort required to keep hope alive. This is the story of the Fairbanks Four.

“A stunning glimpse into a fight for justice. O’Donoghue provides an eye-opening account of a biased system and the tireless efforts of families, community members, and journalists to free four innocent Native and Indigenous Alaskans. More than just a story, this is a guide for how to make a difference.”—Mike Bezemek, author of Mysteries of the National Parks