Phoenix, AZ – Tre C. James, 31, of Pinon, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jamie Yazzie, a woman listed as a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person from the Navajo Nation. United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes handed down the life sentence along with an additional 10 years for related charges, to be served consecutively. James was found guilty by a federal jury of First Degree Murder and multiple counts of domestic violence against three other Navajo women.
“Securing justice for missing victims of violence requires collaboration, commitment, and urgency,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “We must ensure that communities report missing loved ones promptly, victim advocates support families, and agents and prosecutors pursue justice without delay.”
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez emphasized the ongoing commitment to Native American communities. “Today’s sentence reaffirms that Jamie Yazzie was not forgotten, and we will continue to fight for justice for victims of violence in Arizona’s Native communities.”
James murdered Yazzie in the summer of 2019 on the Navajo Nation and concealed her remains on the Hopi Reservation for nearly three years. Multiple agencies, including the FBI, Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, collaborated in the investigation, which faced significant challenges, including delays in reporting Yazzie’s disappearance, a cleaned crime scene, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Navajo Nation.
In the course of the investigation, additional assaults against other women were uncovered, further extending James’ sentence. Investigators persevered, and with the support of Yazzie’s family, justice was ultimately served.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer E. LaGrange and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon K. Sexton.
For more details, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.
