safety
Tipster charged with killing man who vanished over 30 years ago after giving anonymous tip to police
By Josiah Pike, Jordan Gartner at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 18, 2026
· 1 min read
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - A Michigan man has been arrested and charged with murder in Alaska in connection with the death of a man nearly 33 years ago.According to the Alaska State Troopers, 54-year-old Christopher Popps was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder on June 25 in ...
Key takeaway According to the Alaska State Troopers, 54-year-old Christopher Popps was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder on June 25 in the death of Patrick Dearth, who was reported missing in November 1993.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The shocking case of a tipster charged with murder after providing an anonymous tip to police has implications for Nashville 's own approach to cold case investigations. While the details of this Alaska-based case are unique, the use of anonymous tips to crack long-dormant investigations is a tactic that could be applied in Music City. Nashville's Metro Police Department has its own cold case unit, which works to solve crimes that have gone unsolved for years, sometimes decades. The fact that an anonymous tip led to the breakthrough in the Patrick Dearth case raises questions about the potential for similar tips to help solve Nashville's own cold cases. As the city's law enforcement agencies continue to work to bring closure to victims' families, they may want to consider the effectiveness of anonymous tip lines and other strategies to encourage individuals with information to come forward.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 18, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - A Michigan man has been arrested and charged with murder in Alaska in connection with the death of a man nearly 33 years ago.According to the Alaska State Troopers, 54-year-old Christopher Popps was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder on June 25 in ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 18, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Josiah Pike, Jordan Gartner at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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