Isiah Adam Smith, 25, from Leupp, Arizona, was sentenced to 324 months in prison on July 28 by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi after pleading guilty to second degree murder. His co-defendant, Trevor Joe Begay, 24, of Tuba City, Arizona, also pleaded guilty to the same charge and received a sentence of 365 months in prison on September 23, 2024.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on June 11, 2021. Smith and Begay murdered the victim because of her gender identity. The two had previously communicated with the victim online and learned she was transgender. They decided to "teach the victim a lesson." After arranging a meeting late at night, they took the victim’s cell phone when she entered their vehicle so she could not call for help. They then drove her into the desert and beat her to death.
Afterward, Smith and Begay tried to hide evidence by burning their bloody clothes and the victim’s cell phone. The next morning, a hiker discovered the victim’s body. Both defendants are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation and committed the crime within its territory.
The case was investigated by both the FBI’s Phoenix and Flagstaff Indian Country squads as well as the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Phoenix.
"This case was investigated by the FBI’s Phoenix and Flagstaff Indian Country squads and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution."
