FEDERAL PRESS RELEASE – FBI MEDIA ALERT: FBI publishes more than a dozen posters in Navajo on missing-person and homicide cases
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The FBI has published more than a dozen posters in the Navajo language to request the public’s help with homicide and missing-person investigations on or near the Navajo Nation.
The 13 posters include photographs, incident details, physical descriptions, and in many cases, rewards.
“The goal of our partnership with the Navajo Nation is to help them make their communities safer,” said James Langenberg, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division. “The FBI has made it a priority to translate as many posters as possible into the Navajo language so we can solve these cases and provide justice for the victims and their families.”
“The FBI works to ensure safety and security in Indian Country and remain committed to that role and responsibility. Our success relies on collaboration and partnerships with our tribal law enforcement agencies, and the community providing invaluable tips,” said Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix FBI Division. “These poster translations help us not only connect with the community, but they provide us with one more avenue to solicit information that can help solve these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice. We will continue to work with all our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to protect all of our communities.”
“We appreciate the effort and commitment our federal partners have in working alongside our department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations in solving these cases,” said Chief Phillip Francisco of the Navajo Police Department. “The posters developed by our federal partners bring light to these cases by recognizing and creating awareness through a large population of our Navajo Nation who read and speak the Navajo language. We continue to ask the public for any information that will help bring justice for these victims and answers to those with missing loved ones. ”
Anyone with information about any of these cases is asked to call the FBI office responsible for the part of the Navajo Nation where the incident occurred, either Arizona, (623) 466-1999, or New Mexico, (505) 889-1300.
Information can also be sent online by going to tips.fbi.gov.
The FBI has a worldwide reputation for aggressively pursuing justice for victims of crimes. The FBI’s Language Services Section (LSS), part of the Directorate of Intelligence, is committed to providing Navajo translation assistance in the furtherance of investigations that bring perpetrators to justice.
To make this campaign possible, the FBI worked closely with the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, FBI Navajo-speaking employees, and Translation and Deployment Unit III National Program Manager Paul Bargota.
“By applying established standards, policies, and protocols to fulfill these unique language requirements, we are proud to leverage our existing Navajo resources to support this critical initiative,” Bargota said.
The first translation was released in March. More are expected as additional cases are identified.
The posters are:
Homicide: Donnie Wade Barney
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Donnie Wade Barney. On August 19, 2017, Barney’s body was discovered inside a hogan – a traditional Navajo hut of logs and earth – on Shadow Farm Road in Rehoboth, New Mexico. An autopsy indicated Barney died from stab wounds to his torso.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/donnie-wade-barney/bellson-navajo-12-4-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Bellson%20Navajo%2012-4-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/donnie-wade-barney/download.pdf
Homicide: Tyrell J. Bellson
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 at mile marker 20 in Zuni, New Mexico, on September 24, 2019. He likely had been dead for several days. Bellson was 35 years old at the time of his death.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/tyrell-j-bellson/bellson-navajo-12-4-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Bellson%20Navajo%2012-4-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/tyrell-j-bellson/download.pdf
Missing: Anthonette Cayedito
Anthonette Cayedito was last seen inside her family’s residence in Gallup, New Mexico, on April 6, 1986. She was last seen wearing a pink nightgown.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/anthonette-christine-cayedito/cayedito-navajo-12-8-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Cayedito%20Navajo%2012-8-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/anthonette-christine-cayedito/download.pdf
Homicide: Wilson Joe Chiquito
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the death of Wilson Joe Chiquito. Chiquito was killed sometime between the evening hours of February 14, 2014, and noon on February 15, 2014, at his residence on the Navajo Indian reservation in Counselor, New Mexico. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. He was 75 years old at the time of his death.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/wilson-joe-chiquito/download.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/wilson-joe-chiquito/chiquito-navajo-3-17-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Chiquito%20Navajo%203-17-2020.pdf
Homicide: Amy Lynn Hanson
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 Amy Lynn Hanson. Hanson lived in Tohatchi, New Mexico. Hanson was last seen alive two days before her body was found in an arroyo at State Route 602 and Blue Medicine Well Road in Red Rock, New Mexico, on November 30, 2014. The cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/amy-lynn-hanson/hanson-navajo-8-20-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Hanson%20Navajo%208-20-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/amy-lynn-hanson/download.pdf
Homicide: Keith Travis Nastacio
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the death of Keith Travis Nastacio. On July 15, 2019, Nastacio’s body was found in the trunk of a light-colored Dodge Avenger SXT that was discovered on fire off of Pipeline Road, in an isolated area north of Church Rock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation reservation. Nastacio, of Zuni, New Mexico, was 51 years old at the time of his death.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/keith-travis-nastacio/travis-navajo-12-16-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Travis%20Navajo%2012-16-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/keith-travis-nastacio/download.pdf
Homicide: James Naswood
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the death of James Naswood. On November 8, 2019, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Naswood was found deceased in the front passenger seat of a red Pontiac Grand Am on New Mexico Highway 602 between mile markers 19 and 20 in Red Rock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. He was last seen at approximately 11:00 a.m. on November 7, 2019.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/james-naswood/naswood-navajo-5-13-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Naswood%20Navajo%205-13-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/james-naswood/download.pdf
Homicide: Matthew and Philip Reagan
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the deaths of Matthew and Philip Reagan. Matthew and Philip’s bodies were found on March 21, 2020, in Sawmill, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. The brothers were traveling from Ohio to California, and were passing through Sawmill at the time of their deaths. The medical examiner ruled both deaths to be a homicide.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/matthew-and-philip-reagan/reagan-navajo-9-23-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Reagan%20Navajo%209-23-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/matthew-and-philip-reagan/download.pdf
Homicide: Caldwell Dewyne Smith
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the homicide of Caldwell Dewyne Smith. Smith’s body was found on September 15, 2013, in Shonto, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. The medical examiner ruled his death to be a homicide.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/caldwell-dewyne-smith/smith-navajo-6-26-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Smith%20Navajo%206-26-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/caldwell-dewyne-smith/download.pdf
Missing: Laverda Sorrell
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance of Laverda Sorrell. Sorrell’s husband reported his wife had been missing since July 4, 2002, when he dropped her off at an office in Fort Defiance, Arizona. A family member reported her missing to the Navajo Police, Window Rock District, on July 8, 2002.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/laverda-sorrell/sorrell-navajo-6-25-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Sorrell%20Navajo%206-25-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/laverda-sorrell/download.pdf
Homicide: Tyrone Tallman
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the death of Tyrone Tytis Tallman. On July 17, 2018, Tallman’s body was discovered in a canal in Nenahnezad, New Mexico. A preliminary autopsy indicated Tallman had suffered multiple stab wounds, broken bones, and trauma to his skull.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/tyrone-tytis-tallman/tallman-navajo-12-8-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Tallman%20Navajo%2012-8-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/tyrone-tytis-tallman/download.pdf
Homicide: Alvin Yazzie Jr.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the death of Alvin Yazzie, Jr. On July 15, 2017, Yazzie’s body was discovered approximately three miles north of the Chapter House in Sanostee, New Mexico. An autopsy indicated Yazzie had suffered multiple blunt and sharp force injuries to his head.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/alvin-yazzie-jr/yazzie-navajo-12-8-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Yazzie%20Navajo%2012-8-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/alvin-yazzie-jr/download.pdf
Missing: Jamie Lynette Yazzie
Jamie Lynette Yazzie was last seen on the evening of June 30, 2019, in the area of Pinon, Arizona, within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. The FBI is requesting any possible information regarding her whereabouts or the details and circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Navajo: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/jamie-lynette-yazzie/jamie-yazzie-navajo-8-20-2020.pdf/@@download/file/Jamie%20Yazzie%20Navajo%208-20-2020.pdf
English: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/jamie-lynette-yazzie/download.pdf
