Police seek new leads in Fairbanks fire death

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Alaska Native leaders and Fairbanks officials are making a new plea for clues in the death of a homeless man at the downtown Fairbanks post office nearly two years ago.

Fifty-nine-year-old John Druck Wallis was found on fire in the lobby of the post office late on Jan. 1, 2013.

Workers from a nearby restaurant extinguished the fire but Wallis died four day later at a Seattle hospital.

Fairbanks Mayor John Eberhart announced Monday that tests on Wallis’ clothing by a Georgia crime lab were of limited use in the investigation.

Investigators say a man in dark clothing was seen sitting with Wallis. They’re asking for witnesses who visited the post office on the day of Wallis’ death to come forward with information.