He called himself an "avenging angel." A court called it assault. Both things happened because of what was done to him as a child.
Jason Vukovich, born June 25, 1975, in Anchorage, Alaska, spent his childhood being physically and sexually abused by his adoptive stepfather, Larry Lee Fulton. In 2016, as an adult, Vukovich used Alaska's public sex offender registry to track down and attack three convicted sex offenders with a hammer. The case made him a divisive figure — to some, a symbol of a survivor pushed past his limit; to others, proof that vigilante violence causes real harm regardless of the target.
A Childhood of Abuse
Fulton married Vukovich's mother and adopted him at age four. According to testimony from Vukovich's half-brother Joel during Vukovich's later trial, Fulton regularly beat both boys and sexually assaulted them in their beds at night. “We'd roll over on the bunk beds and be up against the wall,” Joel testified. “It was my job to go first so he would leave Jason alone.”
In 1989, Fulton was convicted of second-degree abuse and molestation of a minor. He received a three-year suspended sentence and was allowed to return home, where the abuse continued. At 16, Vukovich and his brother ran away.
Years on the Road
Without identification or legal means to support himself, Vukovich turned to petty crime, moving through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California before eventually returning to Alaska in 2008. He accumulated multiple felony convictions over the years and struggled with addiction. He later wrote from prison: “I gave my existence no value or concern. I became a thief and a liar and went on to make many poor choices throughout my life.”
The Attacks
By 2016, back in Alaska and cycling in and out of jail, Vukovich began compiling a list of names from Alaska's public sex offender registry. Over five days in June 2016, he attacked three men:
Charles Albee, 68, convicted in 2003 of second-degree abuse of a minor, was struck several times and robbed after Vukovich forced his way into his home.
Andres Barbosa, 25, convicted in 2014 of possessing child pornography, was punched and threatened with a hammer while two women accompanying Vukovich filmed the assault and stole items from his home.
Wesley Demarest, 68, convicted in 2006 of attempted sexual abuse of a minor, was beaten unconscious with the hammer after refusing Vukovich's orders. Vukovich told him, “I'm an avenging angel, I'm going to mete out justice for the people you hurt.”
Demarest called 911 after regaining consciousness. Police found Vukovich nearby with a notebook listing all three victims' names and addresses.
Arrest and Sentencing
Vukovich was charged with first-degree assault, third-degree assault, and first-degree burglary. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to these charges in exchange for the dismissal of more than a dozen additional charges. He was sentenced to 28 years, with 5 years suspended, followed by 5 years of probation.
What He's Said Since
In a 2017 letter to the Anchorage Daily News, Vukovich expressed regret for his actions and explicitly said he wanted his story to serve as a deterrent, not an inspiration: he has publicly stated there is no place for vigilante justice in an ordered society, and that he never received professional help processing his own abuse before his anger turned violent.
Demarest, for his part, has said the attack left him with lasting physical and psychological effects, including the loss of his job. “It just pretty well destroyed my life,” he told reporters.
Where He Is Now
Vukovich's path out of prison has been anything but straightforward. He was initially denied parole, with the board setting a five-year wait. He later won that decision on appeal and was released. Shortly afterward, he was briefly reincarcerated over an alleged parole violation tied to his online presence, before being released again under stricter conditions. As of recent reporting, he remains out of custody and has been building a public platform, including a YouTube channel, to discuss his story and his childhood abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jason Vukovich still in prison?
No. As of recent reporting, he has been released on parole, following a period of appeals and a brief return to custody over a parole violation.
Were his three victims actually convicted sex offenders?
Yes. All three men — Charles Albee, Andres Barbosa, and Wesley Demarest — had prior convictions related to sexual offenses against minors, according to Alaska's sex offender registry.
Did the court accept his childhood trauma as a legal justification?
No. He was charged and sentenced for the assaults; his history of abuse was part of the broader public conversation around the case but was not a legal defense that excused the crimes.
Has Vukovich spoken publicly about the case?
Yes. He has written and spoken about it multiple times, stating he does not want his actions viewed as a model for others to follow.