Family seeks justice for Indigenous woman’s death

ST MICHAELS, Ariz. — Family of an indigenous woman living in Northern Arizona believe their loved one was brutally beaten to death last week.

Dominic Nez, the older brother of Dominique “Molly” Nez said his sister was rushed to a hospital on the Navajo Nation but was then taken to an Albuquerque hospital because her injuries were so severe. When he and his other family members Gail Kihega and Gwen Tina went to visit Molly, he said she was covered in bruises.

“You could see the trauma,” Nez said.

Nez said his little sister was placed on life support. Then doctor’s gave family the news they didn’t want to hear.

“We were informed by the surgeon that there was nothing they could do because of the brain and head trauma that she incurred,” Nez said. “There was so much blood around her brain, and they couldn’t do anything.”

They made the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support. He said Molly died the next morning.

“Nobody deserves any kind of beating like this,” said Tina. “This is our little sister, this is my baby sister.”

They all describe Molly as being incredibly kind and positive. Who would help take care of people and their children when they needed it. No matter what, Molly was there to help. Which is why her death has impacted so many on the reservation.

“God blessed us with Molly,” Tina said.

The problem the Nez family has is they don’t know exactly what happened to Molly. They said Navajo Nation Police aren’t investigating this case as a homicide. However, they said several people from the Navajo Nation have reached out to them about the situation and allege the people responsible for their loved one’s death were her roommates in St. Michaels, Arizona. Claiming they assaulted Molly multiple times that led to her death.

“Whoever did this to my sister has no heart,” Tina said.

They are now calling on police to investigate this and find those who are responsible for Molly’s death. 

“We just want justice to be served,” Kihega said. “We want accountability. We want change wherever this took place.”

Not only justice for Molly for all indigenous women. It’s one of the reasons why all three wanted to speak about this case to raise awareness and break the long cycle of violence on the reservation.

“I’m not only speaking for Molly, but for everyone across the Navajo Nation, for families who are encountering these issues with assault charges, domestic violence,” Tina said.

12News reached out to Navajo Nation Police and other government officials but have not heard back at this time.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for medical bills and funeral expenses. You can find it by clicking here.