Kevin Darren Blackhorse, Voluntary Manslaughter, Arizona 2025

A brutal stabbing in Tsaile, Arizona, has resulted in a harsh sentence for the perpetrator. Kevin Darren Blackhorse, 37, of Tsaile, Arizona, was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on December 8, 2025. This comes after he pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter.

The crime occurred on January 8, 2024, during a physical altercation between Blackhorse and the victim. In the heat of the moment, Blackhorse stabbed the victim multiple times in the chest and back, ultimately leading to the victim's death. Both Blackhorse and the victim are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.

A joint investigation by the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations and the FBI's Phoenix division, Gallup office, led to Blackhorse's conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiyoko Patterson handled the prosecution.

Blackhorse's actions have been met with severe punishment, reflecting the gravity of his crime. The 13-year prison sentence serves as a reminder that violence will not be tolerated in our society.

The case number for this incident is CR-24-01247-MTL, and the release number is 2025-175_Blackhorse.

For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.

Follow the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter at @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/tsaile-man-sentenced-13-years-voluntary-manslaughter