A Fairbanks judge scheduled two separate murder trials for February and May 2026.

Cedar Mae Sarten, 43, faces two counts of felony first-degree murder and felony second-degree murder in connection with the death of her 5-year-old son, Robert Sarten, on Oct. 14, 2024. Robert Sarten had significant blunt force trauma to the head and stab wounds to his chest.

According to court documents, prosecutors plan to put a state medical examiner and public health laboratory employees on the stand.

Two employees from the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory are expected to take the stand and testify that samples revealed Sarten was under the influence of fentanyl, mitragynine and ketamine. Mitragynine is an opiate and an active ingredient in Kratom, an herbal remedy.

The state has discovered more

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