A mentally-troubled Alaska girl was found dead in “suspicious circumstances” last week, authorities said.
Alena Toennis, 16, was discovered dead along a power line trail in Wasilla on Nov. 15.
Based on evidence gathered at the scene, investigators deemed the death “suspicious” and handed over the case to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.
Detectives have interviewed the person who was last seen with the teen and “everyone who is involved.”
Alena’s family revealed that the girl struggled with mental health illness and addiction lately. Last April, she was released from a juvenile detention center.
“I would say there needs to be more mental health facilities for youth that are struggling, like Alena struggled,” aunt Crystal Toennis said.
“I feel like the system failed her. The state’s very aware of the situation, and they still released her. So, [we need] more resources on the state level, the federal level, to help these troubled kids.”
