Kendra Panteah, a woman from New Mexico, pleaded guilty to involvement in the kidnapping of a man, known only as John Doe, in July 2019. While Panteah did not kill or stab the victim, another man named Gilbert John Jr. fatally stabbed him, resulting in his death. Panteah and John had been using drugs, particularly methamphetamine, before the incident. After the killing, John drove the man’s car with his body inside to a remote location and set it on fire to cover up the crime.
Panteah admitted in her plea agreement that she was driving with others in the victim’s car when he was put in the trunk after causing a disturbance. She asked John for help, and they drove to Bass Lake where the victim attempted to escape and was stabbed multiple times by John with a machete. Panteah refused to stab the victim when urged by John.
Panteah, who is Zuni, faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, potentially up to 18 years, when she is sentenced on January 27. Her attorney, Erlinda Johnson, emphasized the influence of drugs and alcohol on the tragic events, noting the issue of substance abuse within Native American communities. Johnson described Panteah as a “kind woman” caught in a situation exacerbated by substance abuse. John, who is Navajo, is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for second-degree murder in relation to the incident.
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