A Navajo family is heartbroken after the man convicted of robbing their grandmother, Ella Mae Begay, was released early from federal prison. Preston Tolth, who told investigators he beat Begay, stole her truck, and left her on the side of the road, was released from federal prison on June 15.
Family’s Painful Reminder
The family learned of Tolth’s release not from the court or the government but through a text message from their attorney. "We were hoping it was a mistake or a glitch of some sort," Begay’s family said, describing the news as a painful reminder that five years after her disappearance, their mother is still missing.
"I should have been notified," said Gerald Begay, Ella Mae’s oldest son. "For this to happen, it’s almost like a surprise attack on myself." The family feels blindsided by a system they say has forgotten about them.
For years, Begay’s family has waited for answers, and now they are left processing the fact that the man connected to their mother’s final known hours is free. "It’s horrible, and I want to bring her home," Gerald said.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
