On March 12, 2025, Clifton Nez Hamalowa, a resident of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was found guilty by a jury in Phoenix for several charges including First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The trial lasted seven days and was presided over by United States District Court Judge John J. Tuchi.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Hamalowa shot the victim multiple times on August 29, 2020, following an argument. The body was disposed of in a remote area within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation. Additionally, Hamalowa's brother took the victim's car to Parker, Arizona for disposal while his sister involved her daughter in cleaning up the crime scene at Gila River Indian Reservation. Over subsequent weeks, both siblings attempted to silence witnesses until one contacted authorities leading to the rescue of the victim’s minor child from their home.
Thomas Leon Hamalowa admitted guilt to being an Accessory-After-the-Fact to Murder and received a sentence of 108 months in prison on October 23, 2023. Devonne Beth Hamalowa also pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to 84 months on April 1, 2024.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Gila River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Travis L. Wheeler from Phoenix managed the prosecution efforts.