Polacca Mom Sentenced for DUI Crash That Killed Son

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The grim reality of Polacca’s streets played out in a federal court this week as Marian Marsha Josytewa, 40, faced the weight of her actions on August 13. A jury found Josytewa guilty of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Child Abuse, and one count of Driving Under the Influence. The verdict followed a six-day trial before United States District Court Judge Steven P. Logan.

Josytewa’s crime spree began on December 10, 2021, when she reportedly consumed several beers in Flagstaff before picking up her two children from school. Her descent into tragedy continued as she rolled her car on a highway within the Navajo Nation, tragically ejecting one of her sons who died at the scene.

The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level tested at .113 percent, well above the legal limit. A conviction for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release. Involuntary Manslaughter also carries a severe sentence, with a maximum of eight years in prison, the same fine, and supervised release.

The joint investigation by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Police Department was supported by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution with relentless vigor.

Josytewa now faces a minimum sentence exceeding seven years in prison for her heinous act. Sentencing is set for November 3, 2025, ensuring that justice will finally be served for the innocent life lost and the lives forever altered by this tragic event.