Nelson Ray McKee, Voluntary Manslaughter, Nevada 2017

Reno, Nevada – In a shocking turn of events, a local man has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife on the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation.

The victim, a member of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone, was stabbed in the upper chest by her husband, Nelson Ray McKee, 45, on December 31, 2014. McKee, a member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada and Oregon, was indicted on January 28, 2015.

According to testimony and evidence presented during the six-day trial, McKee’s wife went to a neighbor’s house after being stabbed by McKee. The neighbors dialed 9-1-1, and a BIA officer and Humboldt County Deputies arrived at the scene. They noticed blood drops in the snow around the property and on the front door of McKee’s residence.

Law enforcement found McKee extremely intoxicated and two kitchen knives on a table. They also found small droplets of blood on the kitchen floor and on the front door frame. McKee was arrested that night after officers were alerted that the woman died from her injuries.

The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s autopsy revealed that the knife penetrated 5 inches into the woman’s chest and directly into her heart. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI; and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon M. Bryant and Carla B. Higginbotham.

The defendant will face the statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones. U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden praised the hard work and dedication of the local, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners and the Assistant U.S. Attorneys for their commitment in seeking justice for the victim.

The case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The community is still reeling from the effects of this tragic event, and the conviction brings a sense of closure for the family and friends of the victim.

McKee’s conviction is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors to bring justice to the victims and their families. The community can rest assured that those who commit such heinous crimes will be held accountable.

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