A violent argument turned deadly on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, New Mexico, when Bufred Denetclaw, 53, allegedly stabbed a fellow Navajo man multiple times in the back, killing him.
The victim, who has not been named, died as a result of the altercation, which occurred on June 21, 2014, and was fueled by alcohol.
Denetclaw, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and resident of Sheep Springs, New Mexico, was arrested on June 23, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with the crime.
The investigation into the case was led by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elaine Y. Ramirez and Raquel Ruiz-Velez, who prosecuted the case.
Denetclaw pleaded guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter on January 28, 2016, admitting that he acted in the heat of passion when he killed the victim.
On this morning, Denetclaw was sentenced in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to 100 months in prison for his conviction. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The tragic event serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of alcohol-fueled violence and the importance of seeking help and support for those struggling with addiction.
Denetclaw’s sentence is a consequence of his actions, and we hope that it brings some measure of closure to the victim’s family and loved ones.
Related Federal Cases
- Rob Begay, 24, Sentenced in Navajo DUI Manslaughter · New Mexico
- Feds Charge Man in Brutal Navajo Nation Attack · Puerto Rico
- Gallup Man Gets 42 Months for Deadly Navajo Nation Assault · New Mexico
- Colorado Man Sentenced for Child Abuse on Navajo Reservation · Colorado
- Chelsey A. Billy Sentenced for Hammer Attack on Navajo Man · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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