Albuquerque, NM- Labar Tsethlikai is facing new charges from federal prosecutors for a string of violent crimes committed against Native American men in New Mexico from 2022 to 2024. These crimes include murder, kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault.
Labar Tsethlikai, 51, a member of Zuni Pueblo, is now facing an 11-count superseding indictment. The charges include kidnapping resulting in death, first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, kidnapping, assault with intent to commit murder, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and aggravated sexual abuse.
Tsethlikai will continue to be held in custody until the trial. Tsethlikai has not yet been scheduled for arraignment on the superseding indictment.
Tsethlikai was charged with second-degree murder on April 26, 2024.
Tsethlikai has been charged with the abduction and killing of two individuals, known as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, in unrelated events that occurred on October 22, 2022, and January 18, 2024, respectively.
Based on the Superseding Indictment, it is alleged that Tsethlikai abducted John Doe 1 on October 22, 2022, utilizing different public locations and modes of transportation to commit the offense. Regrettably, one individual, John Doe 1, lost their life due to this unfortunate kidnapping incident.
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The indictment states that Tsethlikai intentionally abducted and murdered John Doe 2 on January 18, 2024. In addition, Tsethlikai is alleged to have taken the life of John Doe 2 while engaging in or attempting to engage in other unlawful activities, such as abduction and sexual assault.
Furthermore, Tsethlikai is also accused of committing numerous acts of kidnapping, sexual abuse, and assault against other victims during the years 2023 and 2024.
If found guilty of the charges, Tsethlikai could potentially receive a mandatory life sentence or even face the death penalty.
Additionally, there is a possibility of up to twenty years imprisonment for the assault with intent to murder charge, up to ten years imprisonment for the assault resulting in serious bodily injury charge, and a variable number of years up to life for the kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse charges.
Source: US Department of Justice