Eleven-year-old Ashlynne and her nine-year-old brother Ian Mike gott off the school bus in Shiprock, New Mexico on the Navajo Reservation, but never made it home from school.
was believed to have been kidnapped by a stranger while they were walking on Navajo Route 36. Authorities reported the man that kidnapped Ashlynne and her brother was driving a maroon van. Later, Ian was found alone wandering the desert when a passerby located him and brought him to safety. Ian was found five minutes after the missing persons report was made.
The man was described as a light skinned Native American with a teardrop tattoo under his left eye, and was believed to have been in his 20's or 30's. A search began immediately, and an Amber Alert was not issued until the next day (which was caused by jurisdictional issues).
Ashlynne's body was recovered in Shiprock, six to eight miles south of the pinnacle, near a dirt road south of Navajo Route 13. She was sexually assaulted, strangled and beat to death with a crowbar. Ashlynne's body was found by her own family during their search to bring her home.
The FBI arrested a suspect, Tom Begaye, 27, of Waterflow, New Mexico. Investigators reported that Begaye admitted to the abduction, with the intent of sexual assault before killing her. He said that Ashlynne was still alive and moving when he left her.
Begaye eventually pled to guilty and agreed to a mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Information compiled by:
U.S. Department of Justice
CBS
Daily Mail
Navajo Times
Find a Grave
Obituary
Ashlynne Octavia Rebecca Mike, 11, of Fruitland, was taken from us on Monday, May 2, 2016. Ashlynne was born on Nov. 13, 2004, in Farmington, to Pamela Foster and Gary Mike. She is born to Bit'ahni, born for Cla'hschi'ii, maternal Tódich'ii'nii paternal Tah'chinii.
Ashlynne learned to walk and talk in Hogback among her family, her brothers and sisters, and her parents.
Ashlynne is survived by her parents .... [and other siblings}A funeral service for Ashlynne will be at 10 a.m. today at The Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington St. The burial will be at Mike's family plot in Lower Fruitland, Mile Marker 13 Highway N36 1 mile North NW. A reception will be held after the burial at the National Guard Armory, 1101 W. Navajo St. in Farmington.
Ashlynne's care is entrusted to Cope Memorial Chapel, 404 W. Arrington St. in Farmington
Rest in peace Ashlynne.
