Ashlynne Mike: Man Arrested In The Abduction And Murder Of 11 Year Old Girl To Be Arraigned In Court Soon
Tom Begaye, 27, was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday evening in connection with the abduction and killing of an 11-year old girl, Ashlynne Mike, after her body was found in the New Mexico desert, CNN is reporting.
Begaye is expected to appear in a U.S. Magistrate court soon.
The girl and her brother were kidnapped Monday afternoon.
Ashlynne’s parents filed a report for missing people Monday evening. Later on that same day, a motorist picked up Ian Mike, 9, who was found walking along Navajo Route 13. The boy had told police that a driver had kidnapped both him and his sister, but when he ran into a dead end had told him to get out of the vehicle.
Both kids are of the Navajo nation.
The boy said he was suspicious of the stranger who had picked them up at the school bus stop. But when his sister got coaxed into the van, he did not want her to be alone. According to reports, the man took the young girl to a sequestered spot, at the periphery of the largest American Indian reservation, and walked with the girl towards the hills and returned alone. The boy, noticing this, had run more than 2 miles until he got onto a Navajo Nation highway where a motorist picked him up Monday night.
Lets get Ashlynne Mike home. Social media can help in situations like this. Time is critical. RT #NewMexico #Arizona pic.twitter.com/YnSXWen6XU
— Tinsel Korey (@tinselkorey) May 3, 2016
A candlelight vigil was held for Ashlynne at a community center in Shiprock. A cousin of the murdered girl described her as a witty and good-hearted girl who loved to play the xylophone.
“As a dad, you would like to see your daughter grow up and see her have a family of her own one day…unfortunately, Ashlynne won’t experience any of this.”
Hundreds of people filled a tiny hall and even more people stood outside to pay homage to a girl whose life was abruptly cut short. One of the attendees of the vigil, Paulynda Claw, said, “It touched my heart, and I just felt we had to be here with my son.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade revealed to reporters during a press conference that they would solve the case and ensure that Ashlynne Mike’s death was not in vain.
Police had described the kidnapper as a light-skinned Native American between 20-30 years old. They say he was driving a maroon van which had no hubcaps and came with a luggage rack. Authorities also mentioned that he had a teardrop tattoo beneath his left eye. He had approached the siblings and a third boy asking if they wanted to see a movie; the boys had declined, but the girl had agreed and entered the man’s van.
Here’s the booking photo for Tom Begaye. #AshlynneMike #koat pic.twitter.com/9Ml92oWZ68
— Sandra Ramirez (@sandraKOAT) May 4, 2016
Wade pointed out that the murder of the 11-year-old girl was a concern to many parents, who were worried about the safety of their children as they went or returned from school. He acknowledged that everyone was on the edge in the huge community especially the San Juan Chapter where the murdered girl came from.
The murdered girl attended the Ojo Amarillo Elementary School in Fruitland, New Mexico and lived less than a mile from the bus stop that she was picked up. People have criticized the Amber Alert that was issued around 2:30 Tuesday after she had been abducted, saying that the response time was very poor. Wade declined to answer questions in that regard.
The search for Ashlynne had comprised of tribal, county, state and federal officers who were supported by a New Mexico State Police helicopter in the air. There were also over 70-80 volunteer residents who spanned and worked across the area. Her body was found near the rural town of Shiprock, New Mexico.
[AP Photo/Mary Hudetz]