Navajo Tribal Members Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison for Murder of Transgender Victim

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Isiah Adam Smith, 25, of Leupp, Arizona, was sentenced on July 28, by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 324 months in prison after pleading guilty to Second Degree Murder. Smith’s co-defendant, Trevor Joe Begay, 24, of Tuba City, Arizona, pleaded guilty to the same crime and was sentenced on September 23, 2024, by Judge Liburdi to 365 months in prison.

On or about June 11, 2021, Smith and Begay murdered the victim because of her gender identity.  Smith and Begay had previously communicated with the victim online, where she disclosed to them that she was transgender. Smith and Begay decided to “teach the victim a lesson.” They arranged to meet the victim in the middle of the night, and when the victim got into their vehicle, they took her cell phone so that she could not call for help. Smith and Begay then drove the victim into the desert and beat her to death.

Smith and Begay attempted to cover up their crimes by burning their bloody clothes and the victim’s cell phone. The victim’s body was found the morning after her death by a hiker. Smith and Begay murdered the victim on the Navajo Nation, where they are both enrolled tribal members.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Phoenix and Flagstaff Indian Country squads and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-23-8104-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-127_Smith, et al.

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