The FBI and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations arrested a suspect for a murder of an adult male that took place in March.

Blaine Charles Morgan, 35, of Crownpoint, N.M., was arrested, charged and indicted on July 6 for a stabbing that occurred on the Navajo Nation on March 29.

The Navajo Nation notified the FBI the victim had been stabbed multiple times on March 29 and was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center before succumbing to his wounds.

Navajo Police arrested Morgan, who had turned himself in.

One witness stated Morgan and the victim had been arguing about work-related matters at their worksite in Church Rock. The two parties walked outside, and the witness stated she heard the victim yell that he was bleeding. Then she saw Morgan brandishing a knife.

A second witness told authorities Morgan later described what he experienced, saying he had been attacked by two people at his worksite. Morgan said he pulled out his knife to defend himself and stabbed one of the two, who turned out to be the victim.

Morgan told this same story to police, and added that he was the one who called police and then met with them first.

Several other witnesses at the site told similar versions of the story, but each witness described overhearing Morgan and the victim get into a fight outside that ended with the victim being fatally wounded.

Based on the witness accounts and Morgan’s own story, the FBI had probable cause to believe Morgan unlawfully attacked and killed the victim in March.

After an initial appearance from Morgan via teleconference with the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque July 7, a preliminary/detention hearing was scheduled for July 9.