A woman from Casamero Lake has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident. Debbie Rojack, 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to striking and killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence.
Court documents indicate that on or about August 6, 2024, Rojack consumed a six-pack of beer before hitting John Doe on a dirt road. The victim’s body was discovered four days later on the side of the road, with blunt force trauma listed as the cause of death. Investigators found car parts near the body that were traced back to Rojack's vehicle.
On October 4, 2024, Special Agents interviewed Rojack again. She acknowledged hearing about a fatality in the canyon where her accident occurred and confirmed she was alone in her vehicle at the time.
Rojack entered a guilty plea for involuntary manslaughter. She faces up to eight years in prison at sentencing and will be subject to three years of supervised release after serving her sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the plea agreement. The case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Navajo Police Department, Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting.
"This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown."
