In the quiet community of Dennehotso, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, a devastating tragedy unfolded on September 1, 1996, forever altering the lives of the Yazzie family. That day, 13-year-old Jazann Yazzie, her sisters Veneashia, 15, Cara, 8, and Nathalie, 5, were fatally shot inside their home. Their brother, Rhyan, who was 11 at the time, was also shot but managed to survive the horrific ordeal by pretending to be deceased.
The children's mother was away visiting relatives at the time of the incident.
The girls' father, Norman Dean Yazzie, then 33 years old, was identified as the perpetrator of this violent act. Prior to the shootings, he had been consuming alcohol. His parents, who lived nearby, were alerted to trouble when they noticed two vehicles near their son's trailer had been set on fire. Upon investigating, they discovered their son with a rifle and the bodies of their granddaughters inside the home, which had a strong smell of gasoline. Although he was initially restrained, he managed to escape before law enforcement arrived.
A search for Norman Dean Yazzie ensued, and he was apprehended the following morning, found hiding between two mattresses in a nearby hogan. A note was discovered that he had written, expressing anger over his wife's affair and a recent suicide attempt she had made. He reportedly told investigators he couldn't handle the thought of not having a family. In December 1996, Norman Dean Yazzie was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder along with other felony charges. On March 11, 1997, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 85 years. Prosecutors were unable to seek the death penalty as it is not permitted by the Navajo Nation.
