Zachariah Michael Poor Bear, Murder, South Dakota 2015

A federal jury in Rapid City has delivered a guilty verdict in the case of Zachariah Michael Poor Bear, a 24-year-old man from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Poor Bear was found guilty of First Degree Murder and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in connection with the death of a 19-month-old baby in May 2015.

The investigation into the baby's death was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Collins and Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.

Poor Bear's conviction carries a mandatory sentence of lifetime imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The details of the crime are disturbing. Poor Bear inflicted blunt force trauma to the baby's head and abdomen, resulting in the child's death. The exact date of the crime is May 2015.

U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced the guilty verdict on July 13, 2018. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will face a presentence investigation.

The penalty for Poor Bear's crimes is severe, reflecting the gravity of his actions. The baby's family will receive justice, and the community can begin to heal.

Poor Bear's case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. The guilty verdict is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors in bringing justice to victims and their families.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/pine-ridge-man-found-guilty-death-child