A citizen of the
Navajo Nation was sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty for the murder of an 11-year-old girl.
Tom
Begaye, Jr, 28, admitted he kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered Ashlynne Mike on the New Mexico portion of the reservation in May 2016. He will not be eligible for parole.
“The Navajo Nation mourned when we learned of the vicious murder of Ashlynne Mike. The Nation has carried this pain ever since,"
President Russell Begaye said in a
press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Today, as we learn that her murderer has pleaded guilty to the six charges against him, we have taken one-step forward in healing. We know the pain will be lifelong for Ashlynne’s parents and immediate family.”
Ashlynne's death highlighted the lack of an
AMBER Alert system on the reservation. The tribe had to send out an alert through law enforcement in New Mexico.
“The Navajo Nation is taking every step necessary to strengthen our laws and emergency response communication system," Begaye said. "We are furthering the implementation of an Amber Alert System to protect our children from horrendous crimes such as this one."
Sen. John McCain
(R-Arizona) introduced
S.772,
the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act, to ensure tribes are eligible for AMBER Alert grants.
The
Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs approved the bill at a
business
meeting on June 13 but it has not yet come up for consideration on the
Senate floor.
Read More on the Story:
Suspect in killing of Navajo girl pleads guilty to murder
(AP 8/1)
Begaye pleads guilty in Ashlynne Mike killing
(The Farmington Daily-Times 8/1)
Man pleads guilty in Navajo Nation girl’s murder
(KRQE 8/1)
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