Topline: The man pleaded guilty to charges in the case on Monday.
Published: March 14, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Area in To’Hajiilee where 'John Doe' was discovered. (via U.S. Attorney's Office)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A New Mexico man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday in connection with the beating and abandonment of a man in June 2020, which directly resulted in that man’s death.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on June 24, 2020, Antonio Chaco, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a verbal argument with the victim, who has been identified as “John Doe,” outside a trailer home in To’Hajiilee.
Court documents indicate Chaco struck the victim in the face without sufficient provocation or justification and proceeded to punch and kick him until he was unconscious.
Once the victim was immobilized on the ground, Chaco wrapped Doe in a carpet, placed him in the back of an SUV, and drove him to a remote location within the Navajo Nation.
At this secondary site, Chaco continued to assault Doe before leaving him there, badly beaten and without any means of survival in the wilderness—no water, food, phone, or shade.
Police located the victim’s skeletonized corpse in the To’Hajiilee wilderness on July 4, 2020. It was later determined the cause of death was homicidal violence including blunt-head trauma.
Chaco will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Chaco faces up to life in prison.
Chaco is also under federal indictment for assaulting a federal detention officer at the Cibola County Correctional Facility on November 5, 2024. If convicted of that crime, Chaco faces up to 20 years in prison. That case is pending trial.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: March 14, 2025 8:00 am ET
Area in To’Hajiilee where 'John Doe' was discovered. (via U.S. Attorney's Office)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A New Mexico man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday in connection with the beating and abandonment of a man in June 2020, which directly resulted in that man’s death.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on June 24, 2020, Antonio Chaco, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a verbal argument with the victim, who has been identified as “John Doe,” outside a trailer home in To’Hajiilee.
Court documents indicate Chaco struck the victim in the face without sufficient provocation or justification and proceeded to punch and kick him until he was unconscious.
Once the victim was immobilized on the ground, Chaco wrapped Doe in a carpet, placed him in the back of an SUV, and drove him to a remote location within the Navajo Nation.
At this secondary site, Chaco continued to assault Doe before leaving him there, badly beaten and without any means of survival in the wilderness—no water, food, phone, or shade.
Police located the victim’s skeletonized corpse in the To’Hajiilee wilderness on July 4, 2020. It was later determined the cause of death was homicidal violence including blunt-head trauma.
Chaco will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Chaco faces up to life in prison.
Chaco is also under federal indictment for assaulting a federal detention officer at the Cibola County Correctional Facility on November 5, 2024. If convicted of that crime, Chaco faces up to 20 years in prison. That case is pending trial.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
DA: Navajo Nation Man Severely Beat Victim Before Wrapping Him in Carpet, Leaving Him to Die in Remote Location
The man pleaded guilty to charges in the case on Monday.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 14, 2025 8:00 am ET
Area in To’Hajiilee where 'John Doe' was discovered. (via U.S. Attorney's Office)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A New Mexico man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday in connection with the beating and abandonment of a man in June 2020, which directly resulted in that man’s death.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on June 24, 2020, Antonio Chaco, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a verbal argument with the victim, who has been identified as “John Doe,” outside a trailer home in To’Hajiilee.
Court documents indicate Chaco struck the victim in the face without sufficient provocation or justification and proceeded to punch and kick him until he was unconscious.
Once the victim was immobilized on the ground, Chaco wrapped Doe in a carpet, placed him in the back of an SUV, and drove him to a remote location within the Navajo Nation.
At this secondary site, Chaco continued to assault Doe before leaving him there, badly beaten and without any means of survival in the wilderness—no water, food, phone, or shade.
Police located the victim’s skeletonized corpse in the To’Hajiilee wilderness on July 4, 2020. It was later determined the cause of death was homicidal violence including blunt-head trauma.
Chaco will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Chaco faces up to life in prison.
Chaco is also under federal indictment for assaulting a federal detention officer at the Cibola County Correctional Facility on November 5, 2024. If convicted of that crime, Chaco faces up to 20 years in prison. That case is pending trial.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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