The Latest: Man arrested in connection with girl's killing
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on the kidnapping and killing of an 11-year-old girl from the Navajo Nation (all times local):
7:07 p.m.
Authorities have arrested a 27-year-old man in the abduction and death of an 11-year-old Navajo girl in northwestern New Mexico.
The FBI says Tom Begaye of Waterflow, New Mexico, was arrested Tuesday evening.
The agency says that Begaye was arrested in connection with the abduction and death of Ashlynne Mike.
Begaye is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Paul Briones in Farmington on Wednesday.
The suspect is not related to Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye, the nation's public safety director said.
Authorities say Ashlynee was lured into a maroon van Monday after school, and her 9-year-old brother went along.
The boy was found later Monday after running to a local highway, and a frantic search for Ashlynne ensued. Her body was found Tuesday in a remote area south of the Shiprock monument.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has pledged state resources to help with the criminal case.
Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye has called for prayers and sympathy for Ashlynne's family. Candlight vigils are scheduled Tuesday evening.
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5:15 p.m.
Top leaders from New Mexico and the nation's largest American Indian reservation are calling for justice as authorities search for a suspect in the abduction and death of an 11-year-old girl.
Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye also called for prayers and sympathy for the family of Ashlynne Mike.
Authorities say a stranger kidnapped the girl and her younger brother Monday afternoon.
The brother was found miles away and the girl's body was discovered in a remote spot south of the Shiprock monument in northwestern New Mexico.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez called it a horrible tragedy, saying the priority should be finding and arresting "the monster who did this."
She's making state resources available to help with the case.
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3:45 p.m.
Federal authorities are trying to find the man suspected of killing an 11-year-old girl after abducting her and her younger brother from the Navajo Nation.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade said during a news conference Tuesday in Shiprock, New Mexico, that authorities will leave no stone unturned as they search for justice for the family of Ashlynne Mike.
Authorities say a man driving a maroon van kidnapped the girl and her brother Monday afternoon.
The boy was found later Monday, and a frantic search ensued as authorities issued an Amber Alert for the girl overnight. Her body was found Tuesday near the rock outcropping named after the Shiprock community.
Authorities described the man as a light-skinned Native American with a teardrop tattoo under his left eye. He's believed to be in his 20s or 30s.
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11:50 a.m.
The Navajo Nation's public safety director says an 11-year-old girl who was kidnapped from the reservation in New Mexico has been found dead.
Authorities had been searching by air and ground for Ashlynne Mike, who was abducted by a man believed to be a stranger Monday afternoon.
Jesse Delmar, the tribe's public safety division director, says the girl's body was found Tuesday morning in Shiprock, near a rock formation that the town is named for.
Delmar says Ashlynne's family has been notified.
Authorities say she was last seen on Navajo Route 36 and that her kidnapper was driving a maroon van.
The search for the girl included federal, tribal, state and county officers on the ground as well as a New Mexico State Police helicopter.
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8:45 a.m.
The FBI says authorities are searching for a missing 11-year-old girl abducted by a man believed to be stranger to her on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.
FBI spokesman Frank Fisher says Tuesday's search for Ashlynne Mike will involve federal, tribal, state and county officers on the ground as well as a New Mexico State Police helicopter.
Details on the area being searched aren't immediately available but Fisher says a command post has been established at the federal building in Shiprock.
An Amber Alert issued early Tuesday morning said the missing girl was last seen late Monday afternoon on Navajo Route 36 and that she was abducted by a man driving a maroon van.
The missing girl is described as Native American, about 4-foot-8, 80 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a pink pullover and purple shoes.
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This item has been corrected to show Ashlynne Mike's name was misspelled Ashlynn.
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7:40 a.m.
Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for an 11-year-old girl reportedly abducted on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County in northwestern New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police say Ashlynne Mike was last seen late Monday afternoon on Navajo Route 36 and that she was abducted by an unknown Native American man driving a maroon van.
The missing girl is described as Native American, approximately 4-foot-8, 80 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a pink pullover and purple shoes.
The FBI is investigating her disappearance.
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This item has been corrected to show Ashlynne Mike's name was misspelled Ashlynn.