Roylynn Rides Horse, a member of the Crow Tribe, was brutally attacked and burned in April. Photo by Trista FogintheMorning / Facebook
Two people have been charged with attempted murder in connection with the brutal beating of a woman from the Crow Tribe of Montana. Dimarzio Swade Sanchez, 18, and Angelica Jo Whiteman, 23, are accused of beating RoyLynn Rides Horse, 28, dousing her with gasoline and setting her on fire. Then they left her in a field on the reservation, where she continued to suffer for 14 more hours, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. Rides Horse ended up with third-degree burns over 45 percent of her body and severe frostbite on her legs, Special Agent Aaron D. Christensen of the Federal Bureau of Investigation wrote in the affidavit. She is now being treated at the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City, according to news reports. Sanchez is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Whiteman is a member of the Crow Tribe, according to the affidavit. They were taking Rides Horse to her home on the Crow Reservation on the night of the April 17 incident, Christensen wrote. According to Christensen, four other people -- who are only identified by their initials -- were in the car during the attack. Three of them provided information to the FBI that detailed Sanchez's and Whiteman's alleged involvement in the crime. Leaders and members of the Crow Tribe had complained about the lack of information they received about the case and they staged a march on the reservation last Thursday to seek justice for Rides Horse. Her immediate family participated, according to news reports. The criminal complaint against Sanchez and Whiteman was filed on Monday and both were arrested on Wednesday. Get the Story:
2 charged with assault in burning, beating of woman (The Billings Gazette 6/23)
2 arrested for attempted murder of Crow Agency woman, photos released (MTN News 6/22)
2 accused of burning, strangling woman on Crow Reservation (AP 6/22)
Crow Tribe walks to support woman who survived burning, beating (The Billings Gazette 6/17)
Family of burned victim releases statement, asks for help (The Billings Gazette 6/14)
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