Navajo Grandmother's Disappearance Case Sees Suspect Enter New Guilty Plea

Preston Henry Tolth pleads guilty to robbery, avoiding potential murder charges in Ella Mae Begay's case.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:53pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a Navajo turquoise and silver bracelet or necklace, lit by a harsh flash against a black background, conveying a sense of sudden, dramatic investigation into a crime.A stark, gritty image of a Navajo cultural artifact highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the American Southwest.Phoenix Today

A man charged in the disappearance of a 62-year-old Navajo grandmother named Ella Mae Begay has pleaded guilty to robbery as part of a second agreement reached with prosecutors. Preston Henry Tolth, 26, could face up to 5 years in federal prison, with credit for 3 years already served, under the proposed deal. Begay's family members say the prosecutors negotiated the agreement against their wishes and without their input.

Why it matters

Ella Mae Begay's disappearance case has drawn national attention and highlighted the crisis of violence against Native Americans, with her niece Seraphine Warren walking from the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness. Tribal leaders and victim advocates have been pushing for more law enforcement resources and cooperation between tribal and federal investigators to address the high rate of homicides and missing persons cases in Indian Country.

The details

In 2021, Ella Mae Begay, 62, vanished from Sweetwater, Arizona, a community on the Navajo Nation where she spent her days visiting relatives and weaving rugs to sell. Police identified Preston Henry Tolth, whose father was dating Begay's sister, as a suspect within days. Tolth initially confessed to attacking Begay in a fit of anger and leaving her for dead, but a judge later ruled that confession inadmissible due to improper coercion by the FBI. Under the new plea agreement, Tolth acknowledged using force to take Begay's pickup truck, striking her in the face several times, and leaving her on the side of the road before driving away and selling the truck.

  • Ella Mae Begay, 62, vanished in 2021 from Sweetwater, Arizona.
  • In 2022, Begay's niece Seraphine Warren walked from the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about her aunt's disappearance.
  • On April 16, 2026, Preston Henry Tolth, 26, pleaded guilty to robbery as part of a second agreement reached with prosecutors.

The players

Preston Henry Tolth

A 26-year-old man charged in the disappearance of Ella Mae Begay, whose father was dating Begay's sister.

Ella Mae Begay

A 62-year-old Navajo grandmother who vanished in 2021 from Sweetwater, Arizona, where she spent her days visiting relatives and weaving rugs to sell.

Seraphine Warren

Ella Mae Begay's niece who walked from the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C. in 2022 to raise awareness about her aunt's disappearance and the high rate of homicides and missing persons cases in Indian Country.

Gerald Begay

Ella Mae Begay's son who took a break from his construction job in Denver to listen to the latest court hearing by phone and plans to attend the next one to ask the judge to reject the plea agreement.

Judge Douglas Rayes

The U.S. District Judge presiding over the case who rejected an earlier plea agreement that would have released Tolth from federal custody on a sentence of three years of time served.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, your honor.”

— Preston Henry Tolth

“Accountability is not time served. It's about truth, and we still don't have the truth.”

— Seraphine Warren, Ella Mae Begay's niece

“The prosecutors aren't thinking about our rights or what we need as a family.”

— Gerald Begay, Ella Mae Begay's son

What’s next

Judge Douglas Rayes is scheduled in May to review the latest plea agreement, which also protects Preston Henry Tolth from future murder or manslaughter charges in relation to Ella Mae Begay's case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing violence against Native Americans, with Ella Mae Begay's family feeling left out of the legal process and still seeking the full truth about her disappearance. It underscores the need for stronger cooperation between tribal and federal law enforcement, as well as more resources and support for victims' families in these types of cases.