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- By Native News Online Staff
The Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives (MMDR) Task Force and the 25th Navajo Nation Council said they are offering prayers and continued support to Vangie Randall-Shorty after federal officials announced charges in the 2020 killing of her son, Zachariah Shorty.
Randall-Shorty learned this week that three individuals have been charged in connection with her son’s death, following five years of advocacy, testimony, organizing and prayer. She shared the update during an MMDR Task Force core meeting and thanked the community that has stood with her throughout her pursuit of justice.
“My heart is heavy,” Randall-Shorty said. “But I will continue advocating for Zach and continue being his voice. After five years of fighting for justice, I am grateful for the charges filed against those involved in my son’s case.”
Federal officials confirmed the charges stem from the July 2020 murder of 23-year-old Zachariah Shorty, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. The Department of Justice said three individuals now face federal indictments.
Shorty was last seen at the Journey Inn Motel in Farmington, N.M., and was found days later near Nenahnezad with multiple gunshot wounds. A father and an artist, he was known for his creativity and love of music.
Randall-Shorty said renewed federal efforts in Indian Country — including the Department of Justice’s Operation Not Forgotten — helped advance the investigation.
“Vangie has shown a level of courage and resolve that has lifted not only her own family, but many others navigating the pain of missing and murdered loved ones. The progress in her son’s case is a victory for the Navajo Nation and a message of hope for every family still searching for answers,” Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, chair of the MMDR Task Force, said.
Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton, a member of the Task Force, noted the emotional toll families endure when investigations drag on for years. She said Randall-Shorty’s strength reflects the unity and resilience of the Diné people and added that justice for Zachariah strengthens the broader fight for all missing and murdered relatives.
“We remain firmly committed to addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives and call on our federal partners to strengthen their support. Our communities need coordinated resources to prevent further violence, resolve longstanding cases, and bring families the answers they have waited far too long to receive,” Speaker Crystalyne Curley said.
On July 17, Curley joined tribal leaders from the Coalition of Large Tribes in Washington, D.C., urging FBI Director Kash Patel to increase federal involvement in MMIP cases. Their recommendations included better information sharing, expanded law enforcement capacity, improved forensic support and the creation of rapid response teams to assist families in the critical early hours of a disappearance.
Families seeking support or resources are encouraged to contact Task Force advocates or partner organizations, including Victim Witness Services for Northern Arizona, the Utah Navajo Health System and the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Coalition.
The MMDR Task Force and the 25th Navajo Nation Council said they stand with Randall-Shorty and all families still searching for truth.
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