Office of the United States Attorney FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For Information Contact Public Affairs |
WHITERIVER WOMAN SENTENCED FOR VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER |
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PHOENIX– Aimee Melissa Edwards, 35, of Whiteriver , Ariz. , and a member of the White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe, was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg. Edwards pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter on November 3, 2008. On December 21, 2007 , Edwards and her 40-year-old boyfriend, the victim, consumed significant quantities of beer and became engaged in a heated argument at their residence in Whiteriver on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. During the argument, the victim reportedly became physically abusive and threatened the lives of both Edwards and their two children. As a result of the reported abuse and threats, Edwards grabbed a knife and, during the continued argument, stabbed the victim in the chest, resulting in his death. The victim was also a member of the White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Thomas C. Simon, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix. CASE NUMBER: CR-08-0623-PHX-JAT For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/az/ # # # |