Kendra Panteah pleaded guilty to kidnapping a man in New Mexico who was locked in a trunk and fatally stabbed when trying to escape. Panteah, who did not kill the victim, was involved in the incident along with Gilbert John Jr., who was sentenced to 21 years for murder. The pair used drugs before the killing, and Panteah struggled with substance abuse. After the murder, John set the victim’s car on fire to cover up the crime. Panteah admitted to driving the car with the victim locked in the trunk, asking John for help and driving with him to the Navajo Nation, where the victim was stabbed with a machete. Panteah faces at least 10 years in prison and up to 18 years, with sentencing scheduled for Jan. 27. Johnson, Panteah’s attorney, stated that substance and alcohol abuse influenced the events and that the tragedy would not have occurred if everyone involved had been sober. Panteah, who is Zuni, and John, who is Navajo, each acknowledged their heritage in plea agreements. The case highlights the struggles of substance abuse in Native American communities.
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