Author: Krista Allen

Tappan hours later replied to the woman’s post: “I wish he would battle alcoholism as hard as COVID19” with a photo of a group of Diné sitting under a tree in the town’s breezeway near Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge.

Corrina’s younger sister, Cheryl Thinn, also died of the virus on April 11. Both Cheryl and Corrina got ill around March 20, according to the Thinn family. Cheryl also served as a Navajo Nation juvenile detention officer and as a technician in the emergency medical service. Cheryl also worked for TCRHCC.

“Afterward, I don’t know what happened,” Laverne said. “She got sick. She was coughing, but not that bad. We kept telling her to go to the clinic to have it checked.”

Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation sees an average of nine to 11 COVID-positive patients in the emergency room every day, said Lynette Bonar, CEO at TCRHCC.

“The post was threatening in nature and directed toward Navajo community members due to the suspect’s stated belief that all ‘Navajo’ are infected with COVID-19,” Page Police Detective Terry TerEick said in a statement. “An investigation was immediately opened.”