In the quiet community of Dennehotso, Arizona, a devastating tragedy unfolded within the Yazzie family home on September 1, 1996. Eight-year-old Cara Yazzie, a young girl, was fatally shot by her own father, 33-year-old Norman Dean Yazzie. The horrific event also claimed the lives of her three sisters: Veneashia, who was 15, Jazann, 13, and the youngest, Nathalie, who was only 5.
The girls' brother, 11-year-old Rhyan, was seriously injured in the attack but managed to survive by pretending to be deceased. Their mother, Cecilia Yazzie, was away visiting relatives at the time of the incident.
Prior to the fatal shootings, Norman Dean Yazzie had been consuming alcohol. His parents, who lived nearby, were alerted to a problem when they noticed smoke coming from two vehicles that had been set on fire near their son's trailer. Upon investigating, they discovered their son holding a. 22-caliber rifle and found the bodies of their granddaughters inside the home, which had a strong smell of gasoline. Although they were able to initially restrain him, he escaped before law enforcement arrived.
The following morning, authorities apprehended Norman Dean Yazzie, finding him hiding in a nearby hogan. During the investigation, a note written by Yazzie was discovered, in which he expressed anger over his wife's infidelity and a recent suicide attempt she had made. He reportedly confessed to investigators that he couldn't handle the thought of his family falling apart. In December of 1996, Yazzie was convicted on four counts of first-degree murder along with other felony charges. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in addition to 85 years. The prosecution was unable to seek the death penalty as it is not permitted by the Navajo Nation.
