After a seven-day jury trial, Clifton Nez Hamalowa, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was convicted last Wednesday, of first-degree murder and multiple other charges. The decision was handed down in the United States District Court, where Judge John J. Tuchi presided over the case. According to the Department of Justice, the evidence presented in court indicated that Hamalowa took the life of the victim in a calculated and violent manner on August 29, 2020.
The tragic series of events began when Hamalowa became overcome with anger and, the following morning, decided to quickly shoot the victim in the head multiple times. After this brutal act, the body was disposed of in a secluded area within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation. As the investigation unfolded, it came to light that Hamalowa's brother was involved in the removal of the victim's vehicle, which was later found in Parker, Arizona. Notably, Hamalowa’s sister instructed her daughter to clean the bloody crime scene on the Gila River Indian Reservation.
Thomas Leon Hamalowa and Devonne Beth Hamalowa, the brother and sister of the convicted, previously entered guilty pleas for their roles as accessories after the fact of the murder. They received prison sentences of 108 months and 84 months, respectively—Thomas on October 23, 2023, and Devonne on April 1, 2024. The tragic events further unraveled with efforts from the family to silence witnesses. This intimidation campaign continued for two weeks until a witness managed to alert the Gila River Police Department, which led to the rescue of the victim's minor child from the home.
This intricate case was thoroughly investigated through a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gila River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Travis L. Wheeler, from the District of Arizona, Phoenix led the prosecution.
