ALBUQUERQUE — Federal prosecutors have filed six additional charges against Labar Tsethlikai, an enrolled member of Zuni Pueblo, for kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon. The additional charges are part of a larger series of violent crimes committed by Tsethlikai against Native American men across New Mexico between 2022 and 2024. The added charges correspond to five additional victims.
Tsethlikai, 51, now faces a 17-count second superseding indictment charging him with five additional counts of kidnapping and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon as follows:
- Count 5: Kidnapping of a man on or about May 19, 2023, in McKinley County
- Count 11: Kidnapping of a man on or about Aug. 24, 2023, in McKinley County
- Count 12: Assault with a dangerous weapon (baseball bat) a man on or about Aug. 24, 2023, in McKinley County
- Count 13: Kidnapping of a man on or about Sept. 7, 2023, in McKinley County
- Count 14: Kidnapping of a man on or about Sept. 15, 2023, in McKinley County
- Count 16: Kidnapping of a man on or about April 5 in Bernalillo County
In total, the second superseding indictment identifies 11 victims of Tsethlikai. The investigation is ongoing.
Tsethlikai was initially charged with second degree murder on April 25. On July 31 a federal grand jury charged Tsethlikai in an 11-count superseding indictment with two counts of kidnapping resulting in death, one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree felony murder, four counts of kidnapping, one count assault with intent to commit murder, one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and one count of aggravated sexual abuse.
If convicted, Tsethlikai faces a mandatory life sentence or death for the kidnapping resulting in death and first-degree murder charges, up to 20 years imprisonment on the assault with intent to murder charge, up to 10 years imprisonment on the assault resulting in serious bodily injury charge, and any number of years up to life for the kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse charges.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, led by Special Agent Mark Stephenson, is investigating this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Sex Crimes Unit, and Air Support Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case, with victim support provided by the FBI’s Victim Services Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Unit, and Utah Navajo Health Systems, Inc., Victim Services.
The FBI continues to investigate Tsethlikai’s involvement in crimes against other victims and seeks information. Anyone who has reason to believe they or someone they know may be a victim, or has information about Tsethlikai, call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Tips based on prior news articles and stories related to Tsethlikai’s conduct have produced information supporting some of the charges featured in the superseding indictment.
Tsethlikai is approximately five feet and seven inches tall, and weighs about 180 pounds. He is heavyset, has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears glasses. It is believed that he often wore a gold bracelet. He is from Zuni, but traveled extensively around New Mexico, including Gallup, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. Prior to being detained, it is believed that Tsethlikai worked in the Native American jewelry industry and was a Zuni jewelry artist.
Moreover, prior to being detained on federal charges, investigators believe that Tsethlikai used a gold/brown Chevy Silverado, single cab truck, with dual exhaust, bearing license plate number WNMU0043, in furtherance of his criminal spree.
