On a tragic day in April 2018, 31-year-old Antonio Montowine, a male member of the Navajo Nation, lost his life in a sudden and violent encounter. The incident unfolded near Bluff, Utah, on the Navajo Reservation, while Montowine was out with his wife and 7-year-old son searching for a lost pet. Their search led them to their family property, where they came across a parked truck.
Concerned about previous instances of illegal dumping in the area, Montowine approached the driver of the
truck, later identified as Perry Maryboy, also a member of the Navajo Nation. An argument ensued between the two men. The situation quickly escalated when Maryboy retrieved a handgun from his vehicle. He fired an initial shot into the air. As Montowine turned to get back into his own van, Maryboy fired a second shot, which tragically struck Montowine in the back of the head. The fatal event occurred in the presence of Montowine's wife and young son.
Following the shooting, Maryboy fled the scene in his truck. A monthslong investigation by federal agents followed. A significant break in the case came when Montowine's wife spotted the suspect's truck on the Navajo Reservation and was able to provide the license plate number to investigators. This information led authorities to Maryboy's wife and ultimately to Maryboy himself through his cellphone records, which placed him at the scene of the crime.
Perry Maryboy was arrested in December 2018 and subsequently charged with second-degree murder. In May 2023, a federal jury convicted him of second-degree murder and a firearm-related charge. In August 2023, Perry Maryboy was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the killing of Antonio Montowine.
