FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Evan Haceesa was charged with murder in Indian Country.

Haceesa, 30, of Nageezi, N.M. and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared for a preliminary and detention hearing Sept. 23 and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

As alleged in a criminal complaint, Aug. 28, Haceesa attacked his girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe, at his residence in Nageezi on the Navajo Nation. Haceesa allegedly punched Jane Doe in the face until she lost consciousness and kicked her several times. Upon arriving at the home, a Navajo Police Department officer responding to a report of domestic violence found the victim unclothed and unresponsive, lying in a wheelbarrow outside the house.

Jane Doe was transported to the San Juan Regional Medical Center for treatment. She initially was diagnosed with a fractured nose, bruising, scratches, bowel lacerations and bleeding in the bowels. Computed Tomography (CT) scans revealed blood and air in Jane Doe’s abdomen, a perforated intestine, bleeding around the intestines, a bilateral nose fracture and partially collapsed lungs.

Sept. 8, Jane Doe died of her injuries.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Haceesa faces life in prison.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew McGinley is prosecuting the case.