⏱ 2 min read
A brutal attack on a dating partner in Shiprock, New Mexico, left the victim fighting for their life. On November 18, 2025, 35-year-old Darrell Joe Ben Jr., an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted his partner while intoxicated.
Responding officers detained Ben at the scene, but the victim’s injuries were so severe they required immediate medical attention. They were rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to an intensive care unit in Albuquerque for further treatment.
The FBI’s Farmington Resident Agency, assisted by the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, took on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting Ben, who has pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury.
Ben could face up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office have announced the case, but the question remains: what drove Ben to violence that night?
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
