DeepSummary
The episode is about the disappearance of Ella Mae Begay, a 62-year-old Navajo woman from Sweetwater, Arizona. Connie Walker, the host, travels to the Navajo Nation to investigate Ella Mae's case, which has garnered significant attention due to the efforts of her niece Seraphine Warren. Walker interviews Ella Mae's family members and reconstructs the events of the night she went missing, including a break-in at her daughter Joanne's house and the subsequent disappearance of Ella Mae's truck.
Police quickly identified Preston Tolth, a 22-year-old with a criminal record, as a person of interest after finding his bloodied clothes and learning he had been with Ella Mae the night she disappeared. Despite Preston confessing to hitting Ella Mae and leaving her unconscious on the side of the road, he has not been charged in her disappearance due to an ongoing investigation.
Walker explores the challenges faced by the Navajo Nation police, including a vast territory, understaffing, and mistrust from the community. She also delves into the broader issue of missing and murdered indigenous women, with Ella Mae's case receiving rare widespread attention.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The disappearance of Ella Mae Begay, a 62-year-old Navajo woman from Sweetwater, Arizona, remains unsolved despite a person of interest confessing to harming her.
- The Navajo Nation police face significant challenges in investigating cases like Ella Mae's, including a vast territory, understaffing, and mistrust from the community.
- The case of Ella Mae Begay has received rare widespread attention due to the efforts of her niece Seraphine Warren and the broader issue of missing and murdered indigenous women.
- The remote and isolated nature of the Navajo Nation, as well as the lack of basic infrastructure in some areas, contributes to the difficulties in solving cases like Ella Mae's.
- There is a deep-rooted fear and mistrust towards law enforcement within the Navajo Nation community, which hinders the flow of information and leads in investigations.
- The episode explores the broader issue of missing and murdered indigenous women, which often receives less attention and resources compared to other cases.
- Ella Mae Begay's case highlights the need for improved law enforcement resources, community engagement, and attention to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women.
- The investigation into Ella Mae's disappearance reveals a complex web of violence, retaliation, and generational trauma within the Navajo Nation.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I don't think she felt safe in the house, honestly, because she has a security door installed, and then on the inside of the house, she has this board, it's like a three quarter inch plywood or particle board that she slides in front of the door after the door is locked. So that just tells me that I don't think she felt safe because that's barricading herself in the home.“ by Gerald Begay
- “You know, if they could have stuck around for an extra hour or two, the sun could have came up, you know, they should have taped that off, locked the door, or have an officer on site that could have potentially helped solve something. But nope.“ by Gerald Begay
- “Weve been fascinated with this story, and I know youll obsess over this podcast as much as we have.“ by Vanessa
- “For a canadian, the landscape here feels almost otherworldly, just vast stretches of desert and red rock that seem to unspool in every direction. It's beautiful.“ by Connie Walker
Entities
Product
Location
Book
Person
Organization
Podcast
Episode Information
Serial Killers
Spotify Studios
4/26/24
Violence. Retaliation. Disappearances. The Navajo Nation is 27,000 square miles of remote terrain with just over 200 tribal police officers. This season on Stolen, Connie Walker’s investigation into the cases of two missing women leads her on a search for justice in a place where people say you can get away with murder.
To listen to the entire season, search for “Stolen” on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices