Faith Lindsey, a 17-year-old Native American female and a member of the Chickasaw Tribe, vanished on October 28, 2019, from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where she had been residing with her 24-year-old boyfriend, Tanner Dean Washington. Initially, Washington claimed he had dropped her off at her job at a local Sonic restaurant, but her coworkers stated she never arrived for her shift.
In the days that followed her disappearance, Faith's family began receiving text messages from her phone that were uncharacteristically filled with spelling and grammatical errors, leading them to believe someone else was sending them. One of these messages claimed she was with someone who would not allow her to come home.
The investigation into Faith's disappearance quickly focused on Washington, who had a history of domestic violence and was on probation for assault and battery against her. His story to the police changed multiple times. He initially said he received a text message stating Faith had been shot, a claim he later admitted was a lie. A more chilling account emerged when an ex-girlfriend of Washington's came forward. She told police that on the day after Faith was last seen, Washington had confessed to her and her husband that Faith had been shot in Sasakwa and that he was the reason for her death. The ex-girlfriend also noted what appeared to be bloodstains on his shoes, pants, and cell phone, which Washington claimed was Faith's blood.
As the investigation progressed, physical evidence began to mount against Washington. Shortly after Faith went missing, he sold his pickup truck. A subsequent search of the vehicle by investigators revealed bloodstains in the backseat and on a pair of sunglasses. Forensic testing confirmed the blood belonged to Faith Lindsey. In December 2019, Tanner Washington was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The legal proceedings took a complex turn due to a Supreme Court ruling concerning state jurisdiction over crimes involving tribal citizens on tribal lands. The state charges were dropped, but the case was picked up by federal prosecutors, who charged him with murder in Indian Country.
In August 2022, facing a mountain of evidence, Tanner Washington pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Faith Lindsey. Despite his guilty plea, he has refused to reveal the location of her body, which has never been found. Authorities believe her remains could be in Seminole, Garvin, or Pontotoc County. In May 2024, Washington was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. The sentence was handed down in part because of his refusal to disclose where he had left Faith's remains.
