A Navajo Nation man, David Barney, 32, has been charged with second-degree murder in federal court for allegedly killing his father with a baseball bat. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico announced the charge today.
According to court documents, Barney, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is accused of striking his father in the head with a baseball bat between December 28, 2024, and January 14, 2025. Following the alleged assault, Barney reportedly wrapped the victim in blankets, placed him in a wheelbarrow, and moved the body to a nearby location. The victim's family discovered the body on February 1, 2025.
Barney remains in federal custody awaiting trial and faces a potential life sentence if convicted. The case is being investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.