ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A brutal assault and murder has left a community shaken in McKinley County, New Mexico. Vernon Poleahla, a 34-year-old enrolled member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque to assault and voluntary manslaughter charges.
According to the FBI, Poleahla was arrested on May 3, 2018, for killing one man and assaulting another on Zuni Pueblo. The victims were stabbed and strangled, leaving one with a fatal abdominal wound and the other with severe neck injuries.
Poleahla was initially arrested by the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department on April 27, 2018, but was later taken into custody by the FBI. During today’s proceedings, Poleahla admitted to stabbing one victim in the abdomen and strangling and stabbing the other in the neck, resulting in the second victim becoming unconscious and suffering severe hypoxia and a four-centimeter laceration on his neck.
Poleahla faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for the voluntary manslaughter charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the assault charge. He is currently in federal custody, awaiting sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros prosecuting the case. The community is left to grapple with the devastating consequences of Poleahla’s actions, and the severity of his sentence remains to be seen.
The people of Zuni Pueblo and McKinley County demand justice for the victims and their families. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Defendant’s Name: Vernon Poleahla, 34 years old
Criminal Charges: Assault and Voluntary Manslaughter
City and State: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date: April 27, 2018 (crime date)
Sentence or Outcome: Current status: in federal custody, awaiting sentencing
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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