WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, along with Speaker Crystalyne Curley and Law and Order Committee Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton, issued a memorandum June 20 calling on the Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and the Division of Public Safety to take immediate action and to provide support and resources for the family of Dominique “Molly” Nez, whose death is being investigated.
The MMDR Task Force received a request from the family for assistance in finding answers, transparent communication, and assurance that the investigation is being pursued with the care and urgency it demands.
According to 12 News, an NBC affiliate out of Phoenix, Molly’s family believe that their loved one was beaten to death.
Dominic Nez, the older brother of Molly, said his sister was rushed to a hospital on the Navajo Nation but was then taken to an Albuquerque hospital because her injuries were so severe. When he and his other family members went to visit Molly, he said she was covered in bruises.
Molly was eventually placed on life support, and the family had to make the difficult decision to take her off of it . She died the next morning.
The problem the Nez family has is they don’t know exactly what happened to Molly. They said Navajo Nation Police aren’t investigating this case as a homicide. However, they said several people from the Navajo Nation have reached out to them about the situation and allege the people responsible for their loved one’s death were her roommates in St. Michaels, Ariz.
In a June 20 press release the 25th Navajo Nation Council said Dominque’s untimely death has raised concerns across the Navajo Nation. The 25th Navajo Nation Council and the MMDR Task Force fully support the family and loved ones in finding justice for Molly.
“Our Navajo people are reaching out to Council delegates to demand support and an urgent response,” Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Chair of the MMDR Task Force, said. “They are asking us to help treat this case with diligence and compassion. It is critical that the Navajo Police Department hears and sees the family, and acts swiftly.”
Currently, the MMDR Task Force and the Navajo Nation Council are responding to the growing concerns the family and public voiced. The MMDR Task Force and Council stated they expect the Navajo Police Department to move quickly and professionally, guided by transparency and accountability.
“Violent crimes cause grief for many people,” Speaker Crystalyne Curley said. “Our people are affected by violence, harm, and abuse. Incidents like these should never be overlooked or unreported. The 25th Navajo Nation Council demands swift, diligent action from the Navajo Police Department to ensure our people are not silenced and their concerns are fully addressed.”
Charles-Newton has also been engaged with the Division of Public Safety to advocate for the family and loved ones.
The press release stated that the MMDR Task Force is honoring the memory and life of Molly.
“Her story matters,” the press release states. “And her family deserves truth, justice, and support. The Council will continue to work with the NPD to receive updates, verify facts, and ensure that Molly’s family receives timely and accurate information and support throughout the process.”
