Gila River Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder After Killing Hualapai Man with Axe

PHOENIX—Jonathan Bennie Yazzie, Jr., 20, of Peach Springs, Ariz. and a member of the Gila River Indian Community, pleaded guilty on Thursday, April 30, to Second-Degree Murder for killing a 47-year-old member of the Hualapai Indian Tribe.

On November 11, 2008, Yazzie came home intoxicated to his mother’s trailer and kicked open the door while people inside were sleeping. After forcing himself in, Yazzie starting fighting with his stepfather. The victim stepped in to stop Yazzie from hurting his stepfather, and Yazzie turned on him. Yazzie assaulted the victim, got him to the ground, and kicked the victim in the head and body. Yazzie grabbed a wood-splitting maul and struck the victim in the back of the head, killing the victim instantly. Agents recovered the murder weapon outside the trailer, and defendant’s bloody handprint was found on the maul.

The crime of Second-Degree Murder carries a maximum of life in federal prison and five years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for August 3, 2009 before U.S. District Judge Mary H. Murguia.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hualapai Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Jennifer E. Green, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-01358-PHX-MHM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-145(Yazzie)

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