Tragedy from 2020 — A Family’s Long Wait for Answers
In July 2020, 23-year-old Navajo resident Zachariah Shorty disappeared after a night out in Farmington, New Mexico. Days later, his body was discovered on a dirt path in a field near the Navajo community of Nenahnezad — with multiple gunshot wounds. For years, his family waited for closure while the case remained unsolved.
Shorty had dreams of working as a tattoo artist and loved music. His mother, who spent years fighting for answers, held on to memories — refusing to let her son’s story fade. Finally, this November 2025, her long wait ended when authorities announced that three men had been charged in connection with his death.
Federal Indictments — Who’s Charged and What They Face
According to the newly filed federal indictment:
- Austin Begay, 31, is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of Shorty. Prosecutors allege he used a semiautomatic pistol to commit the crime.
- Jaymes Fage, 38, faces charges of aiding and abetting.
- Joshua Watkins, 40, is charged with concealing the crime and lying to investigators. All three are also charged with misprision of a felony for failing to report the murder.
Both Begay and Fage remain in custody and, if convicted, could face life sentences. Watkins could face up to three years in prison.
Why This Case Matters — Spotlight on Justice for Indigenous Communities
This case falls under the broader efforts of Operation Not Forgotten — a federal initiative aimed at resolving cold cases and violent crimes in tribal lands. As part of a larger push this year, dozens of additional agents were deployed to investigate long-overlooked cases in Indigenous communities.
Advocates say this marks a crucial step toward long-overdue accountability for missing and murdered Indigenous people. Many hope that this renewed attention and resources will pressure authorities to address other unresolved cases — offering hope for families still waiting for justice.
For Shorty’s mother, the charges bring a mix of grief and relief — grief for the loss, but relief that the crime will finally be examined in court. As she said, “I carry him in my heart every day.”
