The case of Jason Vukovich is a story of a man who was taken advantage of as a child and sought vengeance. The search for justice led him to a life of crime and a 23-year prison sentence.

Early Life

Vukovich, born in Anchorage, Alaska, was raised by a single mother. By the time he was four years old, his stepfather started to sexually abuse him and his brother. Vukovich would get whipped by belts and beaten with planks of wood. His stepfather was charged with abuse and molestation of a minor, but only served a three year suspended sentence. He returned home and continued to abuse Vukovich and his brother.

Vukovich found courage and ran away, but turned to crime and thievery to survive. He jumped from Oregon, to Washington, Idaho, Montana, and California with no family or money.

The Assaults

The untreated childhood trauma started to affect Vukovich. He wanted his own form of justice. In 2016, Vukovich scoured the Alaskan sex offender registry, looking for potential victims. He wanted to target men who committed crimes against children, similar to his father. He found Charles Albee, Andres Barbosa, and Wesley Demarest. 

Albee was convicted of second-degree abuse of a minor. Vukovich knocked on his door and pushed his way in, claiming to “know what he had done”. Vukovich slapped him, robbed him, and left.

Barbosa was a convicted child kidnapper and held charges for possession of child sexual abuse images. Vukovich threatened Barbosa with a hammer, but only punched him in the face. Two accomplices filmed the assault and robbed the man. 

Demarest was convicted of attemped sexual abuse of a minor. Vukovich forced his way into Demarest’s home. When Demarest refused to sit down on the bed as Vukovich instructed, he was struck in the head multiple times with a hammer. Vukovich bashed the sex offender’s skull and left traumatic brain fracture, robbing him as well.

Vukovich’s Arrest and Sentencing

Authorities found Vukovich a few blocks away from Demarest’s home with the valuables he stole and the weapon used. Police also found a notebook with the three sex offenders’ names written down. The names were crossed out after he finished robbing and assaulting them.

Vukovich was sentenced to 23 years in prison. He pled guilty to first-degree attempted assault and robbery. In exchange, prosecutors dropped more than a dozen charges. After speaking to a local newspaper, Vukovich begs people to not follow in his steps. 

“If you have already lost your youth, like me, due to a child abuser, please do not throw away your present and your future by committing acts of violence.”

Jason Vukovich in an interview with the Daily Anchorage News

After the Sentence

Vukovich’s attorney said he should not receive any punishment and should recieve treatement for post-traumatic stress disorder instead. The two tried to appeal the sentence due to it’s excessiveness, but were denied. The court claimed that Vukovich did not provide enough evidence that he committed the actions because of PTSD. Judge Erin Marston, who sentenced him, said “vigilantism won’t be accepted in our society” and that the decision was not mistaken. 

The internet quickly started to praise his crimes, dubbing him as the “pedophile hunter” and “Alaskan Avenger”. There are petitions with thousands of signatures requesting for his release. A “Free Jason Vukovich” Facebook group and a “Justice for Jason Vukovich” Instagram page with 11,000 followers can be found online.

Vukovich and his attorney went in front of the parole board in 2023 and was granted parole, but this would not take effect for another five years.