The Anchorage man pleaded not guilty in the fatal hit-and-run accident that killed the legendary captain of Deadliest Catch.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – An Anchorage man accused of fatally striking a former Deadliest Catch cast member during a hit-and-run earlier this year pleaded not guilty in court on Friday.
Thirty-one-year-old JB Matha is facing 10 charges, including driving under the influence and second-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Francis Katongan, who was killed in a hit-and-run on Feb. 18 near the intersection of Northern Lights Boulevard and Minnesota Drive.
“I think we are filled with a lot of sadness and grief. We’re still processing his death … sometimes it feels like he is away on a fishing trip,” Denise Hansen, Katongan’s older sister, said. “It’s going to be our first time seeing JB Matha in person. We just hope everything goes smoothly.”
Hansen told Alaska’s News Source that her younger brother was family-oriented, loved fishing and being out in nature.
She said Katongan has previously participated in several episodes of the reality television show “Deadliest Catch.”
“Our favorite hobby was actually going out and fishing during the summertime until fishing season closed. So, we spent a lot of time doing that,” Hansen said. ”He loved it, so he wanted to make it his career.
“He had a very forgiving heart. He had big love for everyone he’s met.”
Charging documents allege Matha left the scene and that the Anchorage Police Department (APD) later found him with drugs and a gun in his possession.
“APD investigators observed damage to the GMC Sierra consistent with the recent collision, and there was debris recovered from the scene consistent with the vehicle. Matha refused to participate in field sobriety tests, and he also refused to provide a chemical breath test after having been read the implied consent warnings,” the criminal complaint states.
At the time of his arrest in February, Matha was also on a pre-trial release for another DUI and had their license revoked.
His defense attorney, Lars Danner, declined an on-camera interview but told us he plans to enter a motion to dismiss the indictment in the next few weeks. He also said there is a lot to say about this case.
