Ella Mae Begay, a 62-year-old grandmother and respected weaver from the Navajo Nation, was last seen at her home in a remote area of Sweetwater, Arizona, on June 15, 2021. Her daughter reported her missing later that morning after noticing Begay’s silver 2005 Ford F-150 pickup was gone; the truck was reportedly seen leaving the residence in the predawn hours, which family said was uncharacteristic for her.

The disappearance soon prompted a probe that investigators treated as possibly involving foul play. Authorities developed a person of interest, Preston Henry Tolth, who was questioned soon after the disappearance and later charged in April 2023 with assault and carjacking related to the case. Court documents say Tolth admitted intending to steal Begay’s truck, that she was in the vehicle when he drove away, and that he assaulted her and left her on the side of the road. Tolth later pleaded guilty to robbery and admitted hitting Begay with a blunt object, stealing the truck, and leaving her unconscious on the reservation.

Despite those admissions and a reward offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible, Ella Mae Begay has never been found and her pickup remains missing. Her family and community have conducted searches and called for answers; her niece Seraphine Warren has undertaken public advocacy to raise awareness. Does anyone have information about Begay’s last known movements or the whereabouts of the Ford F-150?