Ella Mae Begay disappeared from her home on the Navajo Nation near the Arizona-New Mexico border on June 15, 2021. Nearly two years later, little more information is known about what happened to her.
According to the FBI’s web page on Begay, Begay’s truck — a gray or silver Ford F-150 — was seen leaving her property in Sweetwater, Arizona, the morning of her disappearance, and has not been seen since. The truck is believed to have traveled into New Mexico, specifically toward Thoreau, then possibly toward Albuquerque.
The case garnered national media attention when Begay’s niece, Seraphine Warren, decided to walk from Begay’s Arizona home to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for her aunt’s case.
According to news channel Fox 10 Phoenix, Navajo police announced days after the disappearance that they had contacted a person of interest, Preston Tolth, who was eventually arrested on unrelated charges. Tolth was later released.
The FBI field office in Phoenix did not immediately respond for a request for updates on the case.
Begay was 62 at the time of her disappearance. An FBI release describes her as Native American, 5 feet tall, 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information on Begay’s disappearance, urging people to contact their local FBI office or an American embassy or consulate if they have any information. More details on Begay’s case can be found on fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/ella-mae-begay.
The Journal is launching an occasional series reviewing missing persons cases with connections to New Mexico.
