ALBUQUERQUE – Darrell Desiderio, 42, and Ervin Yazzie, 41, both of Tohlakai, N.M., have been indicted for first-degree murder and other crimes of violence in Indian Country.






A federal grand jury in Albuquerque indicted Desiderio and Yazzie on July 26. The indictment charges Desiderio and Yazzie with first-degree murder, kidnapping resulting in death, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.






The indictment alleges that Desiderio and Yazzie committed these offenses on June 7. The two defendants allegedly tricked the victim into driving them to a remote area where Desiderio allegedly said they could find women willing to party. When they reached the location, Desiderio allegedly...

CHILD ABUSE

Yah-ta-hey, Oct. 15

McKinley County Sheriff Deputy Monty Yazzie said he was dispatched to a house in Yah-Ta-Hey about 11:46 pm Oct. 15 after a woman called in saying her daughter was abusing her child.

Yazzie said when he arrived at the residence, all the lights were out, but when he knocked on the door, he thought he heard a dog whimpering inside. As the whimpering continued, he said he realized it was coming from a small child.

At that point, a woman, later identified as Taylor Natonie, 26, opened the door. Yazzie explained why he was there and Natonie asked who had called the police and Yazzie told her it was her mother.

He said Natonie showed signs of being...

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the death of Tyrell J. Bellson.

Bellson’s body was found near Highway 53 near  mile marker 20, on Zuni Pueblo, N. M., on Sept. 24.

He had likely been dead for several days. Bellson, of Zuni Pueblo, was 35 years old at the time of his death.

The FBI and the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department are investigating.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to call the FBI at (505) 889-1300, or may submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.

Larry Lee Jr.

Oct. 10, 3:50 am

Aggravated DWI (Third offense)

McKinley County Sheriff Deputy Jeremy Shirley said he was dispatched to the 28 mile marker of State Highway 602 in reference to a vehicle that went off the roadway into a ditch.

When he got there, he found another officer who had arrived earlier and found Larry Lee Jr., 34, of Gallup, passed out behind the wheel of his car, which was in drive and still running. The officer put the car into park and woke Lee.

Lee showed signs of being intoxicated and agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests to show he was capable of driving. He failed the tests and was arrested for DWI.

He later agreed to take a breath alcohol...