Ella Begay Missing Person Case

Jun 18, 2021

Mar 18, 2024

Ella

Begay

67

62

60 inches

61 inches

110 lbs

120 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Female

Ella Mae Begay, a 62-year-old grandmother and respected weaver from the Navajo Nation, was last seen at her home in a remote area of Sweetwater, Arizona, on June 15, 2021. Her daughter, who lived nearby, reported her missing later that morning after noticing her mother's silver 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck was gone. The truck was reportedly seen leaving the residence in the predawn hours, a detail that was considered uncharacteristic for Begay, who was known to be a cautious person. The investigation into her disappearance soon indicated the possibility of foul play, and her case highlighted the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The FBI offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance. The investigation led authorities to a person of interest, Preston Henry Tolth, who was questioned shortly after Begay's disappearance. In April 2023, Tolth was charged with assault and carjacking in connection with the case. According to court documents, Tolth admitted to intending to steal Begay's truck. He stated that Begay was in the vehicle when he drove away, and that he physically assaulted her before leaving her on the side of the road. He also claimed to have sold the truck in New Mexico. In early 2026, Tolth reached a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to robbery. He confessed to hitting Begay with a blunt object, stealing her truck, and leaving her unconscious on the reservation. Despite Tolth's confession and subsequent guilty plea, Ella Mae Begay has never been found, and her silver Ford F-150 also remains missing. Her family and community members have conducted extensive searches and have been vocal in their calls for justice and answers. Begay's niece, Seraphine Warren, became a prominent advocate, undertaking a walk from the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for her aunt's case and the broader issue of violence against Indigenous people. On the five-year anniversary of her disappearance, the man who admitted to robbing and assaulting her was released from prison, a development that her family described as a "slap in the face." The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy, symbolizing the systemic challenges and heartbreak faced by many Indigenous families whose loved ones are missing or have been victims of violence.

Jun 15, 2021

Sweetwater

Arizona

Pinal County

Yes

105079

Navajo Nation Police Department - Shiprock District

Shiprock

New Mexico

San Juan County

87420

US Highway 491 & US Highway 64, New Mexico

5053681350

Tribal

Law Enforcement

2-21-22640

Navajo Nation Police Department - Shiprock District

5599

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/23/2026