Begaye charged with kidnapping, murder

CHINLE

Tom Begaye Jr. of Waterflow, N.M., made his initial appearance Wednesday morning on charges of kidnapping and murder in connection with the abduction and killing of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike on Monday.

At the appearance before Magistrate Judge B. Paul Briones in Farmington, Begaye was determined to qualify for a court-appointed attorney. His preliminary hearing was set for Friday at the federal courthouse in Albuquerque. A detention hearing will also take place at that time. He will remain in federal custody until then.

Elizabeth Martinez, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico, said a plea is not generally offered at an initial appearance on a federal charge, “and anyway, he wouldn’t enter a plea until he has the benefit of counsel.”

According to the criminal complaint, Begaye enticed Ashlynne and her nine-year-old brother, Ian, into his van near Shiprock Monday evening and drove them toward the Shiprock pinnacle. Ian told investigators Begaye parked the car and took his sister out of the car, carrying a piece of metal. He allegedly returned an hour later, carrying the piece of metal but without Ashlynne.

Begaye then told Ian to get out of the vehicle and drove away, Ian told investigators. He and another witness were able to provide a description of both Begaye and his vehicle to investigators, who located and arrested Begaye at a sweat lodge near Shiprock.

Police found Ashlynne’s body near Navajo Route 13. Her injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma to the head.

If convicted of kidnapping a minor, Begaye faces a minimum of 20 years in prison. The murder charge carries a minimum of life in prison.

The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, New Mexico State Police, San Juan county Sheriff’s Office and the Farmington Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niki Tapia-Brito and David Adams are prosecuting the case.

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