PHOENIX, AZ – Clifton Nez Hamalowa, 47, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was convicted of first-degree murder, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced on Tuesday.
Hamalowa was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm during and in furtherance of a violent crime.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hamalowa became enraged with the victim and, on the morning of August 29, 2020, fatally shot the victim multiple times in the head. He then disposed of the body in a remote area of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.
Hamalowa’s brother, Thomas Leon Hamalowa, assisted in disposing of the victim’s vehicle in Parker, Arizona. His sister, Devonne Beth Hamalowa, forced her daughter to clean up the blood from the crime scene on the Gila River Indian Reservation.
Over the following two weeks, the Hamalowa family engaged in intimidating witnesses to silence. However, one courageous witness contacted the Gila River Police Department, leading them to rescue the victim’s minor child, who had been left alone in the victim’s home.
Thomas Leon Hamalowa pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on October 23, 2023. Devonne Beth Hamalowa also pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and is set to serve a seven-year sentence, with sentencing occurring on April 1, 2024.
