Update – Fairbanks Police have provided an update on the homicide of a 5-year-old boy. FPD says the Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from Cedar Mae Sarten who was in her 10^th Avenue Apartment around 10 a.m. on October 14, 2024.

Police say Sarten said someone had harmed her son and that he was definitely dead. Sarten reportedly told police that she last saw him alive around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. when he was falling asleep.

FPD says Sarten claimed that she tried to call 911 the previous night but the call would not go through. Police say officers arrived at the scene and observed multiple lacerations to Sarten’s wrists, forearms, neck, and head.

Police claim the injuries were consistent with self-inflicted wounds. Cedar Sarten was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. FPD says officers found her five-year-old son deceased on the bed with a 20-pound kettlebell-style weight with what appeared to be blood on it nearby.

Police also claim they found two knives and a significant amount of blood throughout the apartment. FPD says there were no signs of forced entry. Authorities say the boy died due to blunt force trauma to the head and suffered injuries consistent with being harmed with a sharp object.

Cedar Mae Sarten has been charged with Murder in the First Degree. At this point, she is reportedly still receiving medical treatment. FPD says it had previously dealt with Sarten in July 2020 after an officer observed her attempt to harm the same child during an incident at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

FPD says officers intervened and forwarded charges to the District Attorney’s Office.

Original – The Fairbanks Police Department is investigating the homicide of a 5-year-old boy. FPD says the Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a residence of a 10th Avenue apartment who said a child had been harmed around 10 a.m. on Monday.

FPD officers responded to the apartment where they found a young boy deceased. The victim has been identified as five-year-old Robert J. Sarten. FPD says it was clear the boy’s injuries that he was the victim of a homicide.

Authorities spoke to the caller who they say was the only person in the apartment with the victim when officers arrived. The investigation is ongoing. At this time, no other information is available.

FPD Chief Ron Dupee made a statement about the murder.

“There is nothing more heartbreaking than the senseless death of an innocent child. We are incredibly saddened at what that poor child went through and will do everything in our power to hold the perpetrator accountable. This case is now our top priority.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Robert Hall at rhall@fairbanks.us or 907-450-6500.