- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
A federal judge unsealed an indictment on Tuesday against a New Mexico man connected to the 2021 disappearance of Ella Mae Begay, a Diné woman whose case made national headlines and helped raise awareness of missing women in Indian Country.
Preston Tolth, 23, was indicted by a grand jury on assault and carjacking charges related to Begay’s disappearance. Federal prosecutors alleged that Tolth assaulted Begay, stole her truck and drove it across state lines. He is scheduled to be arraigned in front of a federal magistrate on Friday.
“This indictment is an important first step in determining the truth about what happened to an elderly victim on the Navajo Nation,” U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino said in a statement.
Begay was last seen on Monday, June 14, 2021 near her home in Sweetwater, Ariz. driving a Silver 2005 Ford F-150. She was reported missing the next day. Three days after her disappearance, Tolth was arrested on Navajo Nation for a separate crime and identified a person of interest.
In June 2022, exactly one year after Begay disappeared, her niece, Seraphine Warren began walking from Begay’s home in Sweetwater to Washington D.C. to meet Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in order to bring awareness to the situation. As her walk stretched on for five months, it brought attention and national media coverage to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
National Indian Gaming Commission Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland Honored with Woman Warrior Award
Haaland Speaks Directly to Voters on Trump, GOP Cuts to Clean Energy Jobs & Electricity Savings for NM Families
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
