FBI: Kidnapped child found dead in Shiprock; suspected abductor arrested

SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. – The FBI arrested a man Tuesday evening in connection to the abduction and death of an 11-year-old girl who was kidnapped in San Juan County Monday afternoon and whose body was found Tuesday morning.

FBI spokesman Frank Fisher says Ashlynne Mike’s body was located about 6 miles south of the Shiprock monument around 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday evening, Fisher confirmed 27-year-old Tom Begaye of Waterflow was arrested in connection to Mike’s death. He is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate judge in Farmington Wednesday.

Ashlynne was last seen Monday around 4 p.m. Authorities said she was abducted by a man – later identified by authorities as Begaye – in a maroon van with a roof rack and no hubcaps in the area of Navajo Route 36 near the community of San Juan in the Fruitland area.

Mike’s parents filed a missing person report with Shiprock police at 6:53 p.m. Monday, according to the Navajo Nation.

An Amber Alert was issued for Ashlynne just before 2:15 a.m. Tuesday. Her body was found around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday near the Shiprock Monument.

Begaye was cited in Farmington in mid-April for marijuana and paraphernalia possession.

GIRL AND BROTHER WERE ABDUCTED MONDAY AFTERNOON

At 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, FBI Communication Director for New Mexico Frank Fisher released further information about the abduction.

Fisher said Ashlynne and her brother, 9-year-old Ian Mike, were dropped off from school around 2:30 p.m. Monday and were playing in their front yard. Begaye allegedly drove up in the van, asked them if they needed a ride and then both children entered the car. The Associated Press reports Ian got into the van with his sister because he didn’t want her to go alone.

Around 7:15 p.m. Monday, Ian was found by a random driver along Navajo Road 13 just south of the Shiprock Monument. He was alone and unhurt, according to Fisher, and was taken to the Shiprock Police Department.

The Associated Press reports that Ian watched Begaye and his sister go into the hills, but Begaye came back alone. He then ran two miles to the highway where he was picked up, according to the report.

According to a news release from the Navajo Nation, Ian told Shiprock police Begaye took him and his sister toward the Shiprock Monument, but they came to a dead end, where Begaye let him out and told him to go home.

But Ashlynne was not released and was nowhere to be found by police. The Amber Alert was eventually issued hours later.

The FBI has set up a command post at a federal building in Shiprock. Federal, state and tribal authorities searched most of the day Tuesday for a suspect in Ashlynne’s kidnapping and death before Begaye’s arrest was announced.

SUSPECT DESCRIPTION RELEASED

The FBI released a description of Begaye at a 3:15 p.m. news conference but did not identify him at the time.

He was described as a light-skinned Native American man in his 20s or 30s with short dark hair. He has a tear drop tattoo under his left eye and wore earrings in both ears. He was at one point wearing a long, silver necklace, a gold watch, black shirt and blue pants during the abduction, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade.

Wade added that Begaye was likely alone during the abduction and that agents were unsure if he was related to Ashlynne during the press conference.

SCHOOL BRINGS IN COUNSELORS; PARENTS REQUIRED TO BE AT BUS STOPS

Ashlynne was a fifth-grader at Ojo Amarillo Elementary School in Fruitland.

The school is part of the Central Consolidated School District. Tuesday afternoon, district Superintendent Dr. Colleen W. Bowman asked parents to be present at their children’s school bus drop-off points to help ensure their safety.

Central Consolidated Schools added just before 4 p.m. that any students whose parents are not at the bus drop-off to pick them up will be returned to their school and will have to be picked up there.

Dr. Bowman also said that counselors from all Kirtland schools were at Ojo Amarillo Elementary Tuesday to speak with students and staff.

A prayer vigil was held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the San Juan Chapter House near Upper Fruitland, as hundreds of mourners showed to support her family. The anger and fear was only somewhat mitigated by the presence of Ian.

Ashlynne’s cousin, Shawn Mike, told KOB his own son was almost a victim too.

“This has hit for me because my son was enticed…that same red van…asked my son a quarter-mile away from my house, asked him if he wanted to come along,” he said. “The guy told him, ‘I’m taking the kids to the movies. Do you want to go?’ and my son said no. To be taken at a young age before she could even become an adult – it’s a tragic event.”

Ashlynne’s school principal said Ashlynne was fond of playing xylophone.

Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye sent his condolences to Mike’s family Tuesday afternoon:

“We want to reassure the family that the Navajo Nation Police are conducting a thorough investigation in this case and will be working with the FBI to apprehend the abductor and bring him to justice,” Begaye said.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez released a statement on Ashlynne’s abduction and death Tuesday afternoon:

“This is a horrible, horrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the little girl’s family, and right now our priority is finding and arresting the monster who did this. I’ve directed the State Police and Department of Public Safety to make all resources available to help apprehend the suspect.”