Three members of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington are accused of beating and kidnapping a woman whom they believed referred to one of them in derogatory terms.

Elijah Pacheco, 31, Gilbert Moses, Jr., 41, and Melodie Ancheta, 38, and the female victim were riding in the same vehicle when the victim allegedly made a remark about Ancheta using a "derogatory Spanish word," the U.S. Attorney's Office in Western Washington said.

Pacheco, Moses and Ancheta allegedly started beating the victim and locked her in a trunk for several hours. Poilce found the woman, who suffered bleeding in the brain, a broken vertebrae and cuts and bruises, after being alerted by a fellow Tulalip member.

News reports refer to the victim as a Canadian citizen with membership in the Tulalip Tribes.

Get the Story:
3 Tulalip Tribal members charged in alleged beating, kidnapping of woman (KOMO 3/10)
Tulalips face federal charges in alleged assault and kidnapping (The Seattle Times 3/10)
Woman Beat, Held In Car Trunk By Tulalip Tribal Members (KIRO 3/9)