Police Investigate Death of Alaska’s Capital City Mayor

Police say in a statement that 70-year-old Stephen "Greg" Fisk's adult son discovered his father's body inside his Juneau home.

Fisk who handily defeated incumbent Merrill Sanford in the October election to become mayor.

Circumstances surrounding the death were not immediately known.

Police say rumors that an assault occurred in connection with Fisk's death are "speculation."

An autopsy will be performed to help determine the cause of death.

Fisk was also a fisheries consultant.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Police are investigating the death of the newly elected mayor of Alaska's capital city who was found dead at his Juneau home.

A man found 70-year-old Stephen "Greg" Fisk Monday afternoon and alerted authorities, a police statement said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fisk had handily defeated incumbent Merrill Sanford in the October election to become mayor.

Circumstances surrounding the death were not immediately available, but the Juneau Police Department did respond to rumors of an assault.

"JDP's aware of the rumors going around that there was an assault," the Juneau Empire quoted Police Chief Bryce Johnson as saying. "That's just speculation. We don't know the cause of death. We'll have to get the autopsy done."

Johnson said an assault is "one of the possibilities out there, but there's others that could have happened. There could've been a fall, there's lots of things that would cause it."

He said there is no evidence of forced entry into Fisk's home.

The paper said Deputy Mayor Mary Becker was named acting mayor.

"I think this was a terrible day for all of Juneau," said Jill Ramiel, president of the Downtown Business Association. "He was never afraid to say what he thought."

Fisk's campaign chairman, Bob King, said his potential as a mayor was starting to show. "For that potential to be snuffed out is just a crushing loss." Fisk was also a fisheries consultant.

The paper said that as police prepared to remove Fisk's body, a small crowd started lighting candles and placing them in the center of a small public sculpture.

"That makes me feel better," said D.J. Thomson after lighting the candles in Fisk's memory.