Preston Tolth, the last person known to have seen Navajo elder Ella Mae Begay alive, has been arrested for burglary in an unrelated incident. Tolth, who previously admitted to stealing Begay’s truck and assaulting her, was released early from federal prison and was staying at a transitional facility in Phoenix. His recent arrest raises questions about whether he will return to prison. Begay’s disappearance in 2021 remains unsolved and highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Tolth’s arrest occurred after he allegedly broke into a home, violating the terms of his supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is aware of the situation, and Tolth’s probation officer has been informed. Begay’s family was unaware of Tolth’s release from the transitional facility.
QUESTION: How might the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people impact the way communities address safety and justice?
Burglary charge could send man linked to Navajo elder’s disappearance back to federal prison
