The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety are investigating the circumstances surrounding a body that was found in the trunk of a burning car near Church Rock.

The body, which was badly burned, was taken to the state Office of the Medical Investigator for determination of cause of death and identification.

The vehicle, believed to be a Dodge Avenger SXT, was discovered on fire July 15, off Pipeline Road, in an isolated area north of Church Rock.

Alleged crime took place on Navajo Nation

Two men from McKinley County pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque, July 11 to a charge of kidnapping in Indian Country.

A grand jury returned an indictment against Preston John, 24, of Gallup, and Brandon Largo, 27, of Crownpoint, on Feb. 13.  The indictment charged them with participating in a kidnapping on the Navajo Nation on Sept. 3, 2018.

According to their plea agreements, these two defendants and a co-defendant, Adrianne Cellicion, were traveling as passengers in an automobile driven by the victim. They ordered the victim to an area behind a building where Largo put a chain around the victim’s neck and choked the...

On July 13, around 5:51 pm, the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash on Interstate 40 eastbound near mile marker 32 east of Gallup.

The initial investigation revealed a blue 2015 Kenworth tractor trailer was traveling east on I-40 near mile marker 32. A red 1997 Freightliner tractor trailer and a white 2019 Kenworth tractor trailer were stopped in the right lane of I-40 near mile marker 32 due to construction.

For reasons unknown, the driver of the blue Kenworth tractor trailer swerved to the right shoulder and collided into the trailer of the red Freightliner. As the blue Kenworth continued traveling in the shoulder lane, it struck a white 2019 Kenworth. The 2015...

HOUSEHOLD ASSAULT

Gallup, July 15

McKinley County Sheriff Deputy Cecil Sanders was dispatched to 1203 N. Cliff Dr. in regards to a domestic dispute.

Upon arriving, Sanders made contact with a woman who told him her daughter had been hit on the head behind her right ear.

The victim said she had been with her boyfriend, Tyrell Tyson Charley, 25, of Gallup, when they began to argue. The victim said Charley shoved her twice and then tried to choke her after knocking her to the ground. After the victim left the scene, she said Charley hit her in the back of the head with a rock.

After she got back home, her mother called Metro Dispatch and Charley was taken into Gallup Police...