Navajo Nation – Ella Mae Begay has been missing from her home in Sweetwater, Arizona since 2021. The Navajo Nation Crown Point Police Department spearheaded the Navajo Nation Police Department investigating her disappearance. Authorities believed she may have gone missing in Cibola County. Bigey has yet to be found, but the U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Preston Henry Torse of Thoreau, New Mexico in connection with her disappearance.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice indictment, on March 14, Torse filed an indictment, alleging he committed “serious bodily assault and carjacking resulting in serious bodily harm.” An indictment is just an allegation and everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The indictment alleges that Torse hijacked a car and drove it across state lines after assaulting Bigay at his home in Sweetwater, Arizona.

If convicted of Begay’s disappearance, Tolth faces up to 35 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine.

“This indictment is an important first step in determining the truth about what happened to the elderly victims in the Navajo Nation,” said US Attorney for the Arizona District Gary Restino. “The indictment charges the defendants with carjacking and assault. An investigation is ongoing.”

Torse is currently on trial for armed robbery, aggravated battery, and other charges of stabbing an unnamed man in Glanz on January 26.

Bigey disappeared from his home in Sweetwater, Arizona on June 15, 2021. The FBI believed Bigey was in or traveling to Cibola County and may have stopped in the Sorrow area. To bolster their efforts, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible for Elamey’s Bigay disappearance.

Begay is a 5 foot 1 inch tall woman who weighs 110 pounds. She has her brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. On June 18, the Navajo Nation Police Department arrested Navajo Nation Preston Torse for unrelated assault, and police said he was a suspect in Bigey’s disappearance.

Begay was traveling in a Silver 2005 Ford F150 with Arizona license plate AFE7101.

Darlene Gomez, the attorney representing the Bigey family, said in a statement on Twitter that the indictment marks a bittersweet development for the family. and thanked him for his support.

“This indictment is an important first step in determining the truth about what happened to the elderly victims in the Navajo Nation,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restino of Arizona.