The man accused of murder in the stabbing death of 61-year-old John Fergerson Sr. Sunday was a friend who had traveled with him from Washington state to Yakutat.
John L. Stapleton, 46, was arrested for second-degree murder Monday after he and Fergerson Sr. got into a fight and Stapleton stabbed Fergerson, Alaska State Troopers said.
Both men were from Washington, Stapleton from Kent and Fergerson from Bremerton.
The two had been drinking heavily the night of the fatal stabbing, the Bremerton-based Kitsap Sun newspaper reported Thursday. Charging documents indicate Stapleton went to bed but may have overheard Fergerson asking Stapleton's ex-girlfriend to walk around the room in her underwear as they watched television.
The two men were co-workers, according to troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters.
They worked together as toll collectors for the Washingon state ferry system and were on vacation when the incident occurred, a friend said in an email. Fergerson worked at the Fauntleroy terminal and Stapleton at the Colman Dock terminal, both in Seattle.
A public information officer for the Washington State Ferry System confirmed the men's employment status. The system has 2,000 employees.
Stapleton remained jailed at Lemon Creek Correctional Center as of Friday.