1. Indigenous people crime prevention
2. Tribal community policing efforts.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
In the winter of 2021, the Shorty family made a grim discovery when they found Philbert Shorty’s abandoned car stuck in the mud near the Arizona-New Mexico state line. His uncle, Ben Shorty, recalls, “We couldn’t find any answers. We knew something had happened.”
After reporting the 44-year-old man missing, the family embarked on a two-year search, combing through remote canyons on the Navajo Nation and utilizing radio advertisements and social media in the hopes of finding any leads.
Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain. Little did they know that Philbert had been killed over a week before they reported him missing.
A Gruesome Revelation
It wasn’t until U.S. prosecutors struck a plea deal with Shiloh Aaron Oldrock that the truth came to light. Oldrock, a 30-year-old man from Fargo, N.D., was charged in connection with Shorty’s death, which was uncovered during an investigation into the killing and beheading of Oldrock’s uncle.
Oldrock confessed to authorities that he and his uncle had conspired to cover up Shorty’s death by dismembering and burning his body on January 29, 2021, following a night of heavy drinking and fighting at his uncle’s home near Navajo, N.M.
Unsolved Cases Plague Indian Country
Shorty’s tragic story is just one of many that highlight the high rates of missing persons and unsolved killings involving Indigenous people in the United States and Canada. This crisis has garnered the attention of policymakers, leading to the establishment of a task force and the passing of legislation aimed at addressing the issue.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has been working tirelessly under the Biden administration to tackle the systemic problems and jurisdictional challenges that have left victims’ families feeling neglected.
The Ongoing Struggle for Closure
Despite the increased focus on solving these crimes, families like the Shortys continue to grapple with the lingering pain of uncertainty. U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alexander Uballez, acknowledged the family’s plight in a November sentencing memo, expressing hope that putting Oldrock behind bars would bring some closure.
However, the lack of transparency and communication from law enforcement agencies has left many Native American families feeling frustrated and abandoned. Shorty’s family, in particular, has been left in the dark about the status of the case, unsure if they will ever have the opportunity to give him a proper burial.
Navigating the Challenges of Justice
Despite the grim details that have emerged in court documents and investigations, families like the Shortys face a difficult journey towards closure. Bernadine Beyale, founder of the nonprofit 4 Corners K-9 Search and Rescue, has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between families and law enforcement, offering support and guidance through the arduous process.
As the search for answers continues, the Shorty family remains hopeful that they will one day be able to lay Philbert to rest, bringing an end to their agonizing wait for closure.
Information for this article was contributed by Susan Montoya Bryan of The Associated Press.
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1. Indigenous people tribal crime police work
2. Indigenous people fault tribal crime police work.
