By RACHEL D’ORO
Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska authorities are investigating the death of a 39-year-old bear hunter on Kodiak Island that was not reported until five days after he went missing.

Alaska State Troopers have not disclosed how Viacheslav Akimenko of Delta Junction might have died. An autopsy is planned.

Akimenko and 33-year-old Aleksandr Neverov of Delta Junction chartered a flight April 28 from Kodiak to Sturgeon Lagoon for the hunt, along with 30-year-year-old Mikhail “Mike” Malyk of Palmer.

Troopers say Akimenko and Malyk decided to cut the hunt short, but when a plane arrived to collect them May 8, only Malyk and Neverov were present. They told the pilot Akimenko had not returned from a hike.

Malyk departed camp and Neverov searched for Akimenko, but troopers said they learned Monday that Neverov found Akimenko dead.