A Waterflow, N.M., man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the abduction and death of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike.
Tom Begaye, 27, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Paul Briones in Farmington on Wednesday.
From the FBI: A Waterflow, N.M., man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the abduction and death of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike.
Tom Begaye, 27, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Paul Briones in Farmington on Wednesday.
Ashlynne's body was found Tuesday morning approximately 6 miles south of the Shiprock Monument. She had been abducted in the Fruitland area Monday afternoon.
The FBI is investigating this case with the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, New Mexico State Police, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Farmington Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
No further information will be released until after Begaye's court appearance.
The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.
The governor’s visit was carefully scheduled to give first responders, law enforcement and emergency vehicles ample time to complete rescues and other emergency work during the flooding. Now that the floodwaters are receding and initial damage assessments are underway, the Governor will survey the disaster zone and work to get families the help they need.
Bloomfield Residents and businesses: please minimize water use until further notice. Postpone laundry and dishwasher use, keep showers brief, and reduce toilet flushing when practical and sanitary. Every reduction helps limit wastewater entering the river.
The district has worked with the Lower Valley Water Users Association on the testing needed to lift the boil water notice. Because of the number of tests required, the district has decided to keep students on remote learning as a precaution for their well-being. If test results come back early, the district must still follow processes and protocols to flush and clear the water lines at each school before in-person instruction can resume. Safety is our top priority for the well-being of our Kirtland students.
Water Samples taken from the Lower Valley Water Association system have tested negative for e-coli. The Boil Water notice has been lifted for customers.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that Lauren Patterson’s husband, Jess Patterson, had previously resided in California and had been arrested at least 6 times for domestic violence in that state and had been arrested in July 2026 in New Mexico for battering Ms. Patterson. An autopsy revealed Ms. Patterson suffered multiple broken bones, bruising, and internal injuries.
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