Nearly a decade after his death, justice has been delivered for George Cecil David, a renowned Indigenous carver from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island. On Monday, December 15, 2025, an Arkansas woman was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for his 2016 murder in Washington state, closing a painful chapter for his family and community.
A Legacy Cut Short
George David, 65, was a celebrated artist whose wood carvings are displayed in international collections, from the royal holdings of Norway to Kobe City Hall in Japan. In March 2016, he was traveling from his home in Neah Bay, Washington, to British Columbia to attend a funeral and visit family when he was killed. His body was discovered in a friend's apartment in Port Angeles on March 28, 2016.
His daughter, Maria David, spoke of the profound loss, noting that his half-finished carvings represent stories that will now never be told. "Indian artwork is a way for us to tell our stories. And his stories can no longer be told," she said in a statement. The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation said his death continues to cast a "long shadow over our community and our hearts."
The Break in a Decade-Long Case
The initial investigation led Port Angeles police to arrest Tina Marie Alcorn, 45, who lived a transient lifestyle. However, with insufficient evidence to charge her for the murder, she was extradited to Arkansas on a parole warrant. The case went cold for years.
The breakthrough came in 2024 when a Port Angeles officer contacted Washington's pioneering Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Cold Case Unit. Established in 2023, this state-funded unit was created specifically to assist law enforcement agencies in solving unresolved cases involving Indigenous victims.
The cold case team revisited evidence collected in 2016, including a crucial DNA analysis performed by the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. This renewed effort provided the missing links needed to build a prosecutable case against Alcorn.
A Landmark Unit Addresses a Systemic Crisis
The success in David's case highlights the critical role of specialized investigative units. The MMIWP Cold Case Unit, the first of its kind in the United States, was formed in response to recommendations from a state task force on missing Indigenous women.
The unit's mandate addresses a stark disparity: while Indigenous people make up less than two per cent of Washington's population, they account for approximately five per cent of its unresolved missing person and homicide cases. This pattern of violence against Indigenous communities is a mirrored crisis in Canada, where similar calls for dedicated resources and justice continue.
On December 15, 2025, Clallam County Superior Court sentenced Tina Marie Alcorn to 13 years in prison for the murder of George David. The conviction stands as a testament to persistent investigative work and a dedicated focus on cases that disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples.
While the sentence brings a measure of closure, it also underscores the enduring need for targeted resources and vigilance to address the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals on both sides of the border.
