Still Missing AZ - Ella Mae Begay, 62, last seen @ home, POI named, Sweetwater, 14 Jun 2021

[SunSun]

Ella Mae Begay, 62, was reported missing on June 15 by her family members. She had last been seen on June 14. A search was conducted but officials have not yet located Begay or her vehicle, a silver, 2005 Ford F150 pickup with the Arizona license plate AFE 7101.

She is described as having a slender build, standing approximately 5-foot-1 and weighing 110 to 120 pounds.

Navajo Police search for missing woman last seen in Sweetwater, Arizona (includes video of law enforcement update)

Man located in connection to Arizona woman's disappearance

Woman's 2005 Ford pickup also has gone missing

 

[Unsolved]

I hope they find her safe and well. Ella May Begay is a Navajo artist - here is a picture of her with a weaving:



Please let her come home to make more beautiful art!

 

[YaYa_521]

TY for starting Ella Mae's thread, @SunSun. From your link posted above:
https://www.abc15.com/news/state/man-sought-in-connection-with-arizona-womans-disappearance
SBBM

The Navajo Police Department says it has located a person of interest police were looking for in the case of a woman who went missing from Sweetwater, Arizona, earlier this week. [snip]
Investigators determined Preston Tolth may have been in the area the morning of Begay's disappearance. Tolth is known to reside in the Thoreau, New Mexico, area. Police said that is where they located him Thursday afternoon, but did not provide any additional details.

 

[YaYa_521]

Navajo woman reported missing Tuesday, person of interest located

SBM
Law enforcement officials and community volunteers conducted a grid search of the area surrounding Begay's residences after she was reported missing, according to police, but she was not found.

 

[YaYa_521]

Preston Tolth has a couple of prior arrests:
New Mexico Jail Arrest Records Search
Date: 01/13/2020

• #1 Criminal damage to property
  STATUTE: 30-15-01
  
  BOND: $2500
  
  
• #2 AGGRAVATED BATTERY (NO GREAT BODILY HARM)
  STATUTE: 30-03-05(B)
  
  BOND: $34764
  

Date: 12/17/2019

• #1 FAILURE TO APPEAR
  STATUTE: FTA-F
  
  BOND: $3000
  
  
• #2 FAILURE TO APPEAR
  STATUTE: FTA-M
  
  
• #3 DETAINER
  STATUTE: DETAINER
  

He also had an active warrant back in April.
http://www.ashiwi.org/Documents/POZWarrants.pdf
OUTSTANDING ARREST & BENCH WARRANT(S) UPDATED: APRIL 23, 2021
Tolth, Preston

 

[YaYa_521]

Comments suggest Ms. Begay and Tolth are known to each other through relatives, but they are not related. My prayers they can find her quickly. MOO

Navajo Police Department
****UPDATE 1:39 p.m.**** Preston Tolth has been located in Thoreau, New Mexico. No additional details are available at this time. Updates will be provided as they become available. PLEASE BE ADVISED, ELLA MAE BEGAY has not been located.

 

[YaYa_521]

Sweetwater, NM and Thoreau, NM are at least 4 hours driving distance apart. Depending on which of the three main routes one takes it could take up to 6.5 hours. The longest route along Hwy. 180W meanders through the Gila National Forest and El Malpais National Conservation Area. Goodness knows if, when and where they'll find Ella Mae if Tolth had anything to do with her disappearance. MOO

Google Maps

 

[mlhenn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)



Ella Begay was last seen by family on June 15, 2021 in Sweetwater, Arizona.

Transportation Notes
MP's vehicle has been located by law enforcement

 

[YaYa_521]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

View attachment 301343

Ella Begay was last seen by family on June 15, 2021 in Sweetwater, Arizona.

Transportation Notes
MP's vehicle has been located by law enforcement

It breaks my heart to see they've already added Ms. Ella to NamUs. I hope they can locate her quickly.

 

[mlhenn]

Days of searching yield no clues in disappearance of Ella Mae Begay

June 19
New details were released Friday night about the arrest of a person of interest in the disappearance of Ella Mae Begay of Sweetwater, Arizona, as search efforts in that region expanded.

 

[SunSun]

On the 18th, the Navajo Police department said that the vehicle they found wasn't Ella's.

Update: The Navajo Division of Public Safety

 

[mlhenn]

Log into Facebook

Navajo PD are doing an awesome and thorough job at providing updates.

 

[mlhenn]

Navajo Police continue search for missing elder

June 22
Search efforts continued in search of Ella Mae Begay, in Sweetwater, Arizona.

The Navajo Police Department Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, continues to follow leads in regards to the overall investigation in the disappearance of Ella Mae Begay.

On June 18, a new grid search of the area was conducted in the Sweetwater, Arizona community, with aerial support from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The search also includes numerous community members, the Division of Public Safety personnel, and search groups.

The Navajo Police Department continues to ask the public for their assistance in locating Ella Mae Begay and her vehicle, a silver 2005 Ford F150 bearing Arizona license plate AFE 7101.

 

[mlhenn]

Reward offered in case of missing woman

Ella Mae Begay, 62, was reported missing June 15.

Since then, Navajo police, volunteers and family members have taken part in searches.

'It has been very strenuous with 106 degree weather,' said Council Delegate Charlaine Tso. 'It's been very challenging. We've had searches by horse and by ATV.'

Money is currently being raised to go towards a reward.

 

[mlhenn]

Update: Navajo Police Department continues search for Ella Mae Begay

UPDATE
Navajo Police Department Shiprock District continues search operations in the search for Ella Mae Begay.

The case regarding missing person Ella Mae Begay was officially transitioned to a homicide investigation.

Currently, the investigation is being conducted by the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition, NPD and our partners also remain committed to finding Ella Mae, and will implement a weekend search operation this weekend in our collective efforts to bring much-needed resolution to the family of Ella Mae Begay.

 

[mlhenn]

Police searching for missing 62-year-old from Sweetwater - Navajo Times

The hours being put in towards finding Ms. Ella Mae Begay is amazing.
Thoughts are with all the officials and volunteers who continue searching as well as family who are awaiting news on their loved one.

 

[mlhenn]

Search for missing Navajo woman extends into Utah

July 11
Begay went missing on June 15 from her home in Sweetwater, Ariz., “under suspicious circumstances,” according to an Instagram post from a group that advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women.

The post says groups extended their search this weekend to Aneth and Montezuma Creek — two small Utah towns in San Juan County — as well as the San Juan River and surrounding areas.

Gerald Begay, Ella Mae’s oldest son, said Sunday afternoon that the family began searching for her in Utah based on leads they’ve received. He said she disappeared from her home during the night.

 

[mlhenn]

Police continue search, change investigation to foul-play probe - Navajo Times

July 2021
The Navajo Police Shiprock District changed Ella Mae Begay’s disappearance into a foul-play probe and police continue to search in Sweetwater, Arizona.

The Navajo Police ask anyone with any information to contact the Shiprock Police District at 505-368-1350 or 505-368-1351.

 

[YaYa_521]

This poor family is waiting patiently for answers. Tolth needs to tell where he took Ms. Begay. I don't understand the heartlessness of some people.

Family frustrated in missing person case
July 19, 2021
SBM
Sera Phine Warren started walking from Arizona to New Mexico in an effort to bring awareness and get answers for her missing aunt, 62-year-old Ella Mae Begay. [snip] "I want to ask the police department where my aunt is. Somebody has to know something and if they don't know, then I'm gonna walk towards Window Rock," said Warren.

 

[mlhenn]

Navajo Police Ask For Public's Help In Locating Missing Woman

July 20
The Navajo Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing person. Ella Mae Begay, 62, was last seen over a month ago in the Sweetwater community.

Morning Rundown: Tuesday, July 20

Navajo Police Say Search Continues For Ella Mae Begay