FBI, Indian Affairs investigating Picuris Pueblo murder

Jan. 12—A person was discovered lifeless Wednesday in a residence in Picuris Pueblo and federal authorities are investigating it as a murder.

The person was discovered after Bureau of Indian Affairs police performed a welfare examine on the dwelling. The BIA and the FBI are investigating, stated Frank Fisher, a spokesman for the FBI workplace in Albuquerque.

“An grownup male was discovered deceased in a residence on the pueblo. The reason for loss of life is pending an post-mortem. As a result of this can be a pending investigation, no additional particulars could be offered right now,” Fisher wrote in an e-mail.

Picuris Pueblo Gov. Craig Quanchello stated the physique was discovered within a household dwelling. A person associated to the sufferer was detained by BIA police after the physique’s discovery, he stated.

“We’re not conscious of any costs being filed or something like that; once more it is beneath investigation,” Quanchello stated. “The factor that occurs right here on Indian land is as soon as a physique is present in one of these scenario … [it] is referred to, all the time, the FBI.”

Quanchello stated he couldn’t launch the title of the deceased man as a result of he’s not an enrolled Picuris Pueblo member. He stated he couldn’t disclose the suspect’s title both as a result of ongoing investigation however confirmed he’s a tribal member.

The governor stated tribal officers grew to become conscious of the scenario after members of the family known as inquiring a few lacking relative however didn’t disclose how lengthy the person had been lacking previous to Wednesday. No formal report of a lacking individual had been filed within the case, he added.

“Often our extent is to confirm the deal with and we are saying ‘OK,’ and [BIA does] their welfare examine, in order that’s type of what occurred on this case,” Quanchello stated. “It is a tragic scenario.”