SHIPROCK MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFTER WOMAN DIES FROM HEAD INJURIES

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — A 46-year-old Shiprock man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in federal court following the death of a woman who suffered fatal head injuries during a violent argument at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico, in May 2024.

Ryan Flute, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted responsibility for the woman’s death after repeatedly pushing her during an altercation on May 21, 2024. According to federal court documents, Flute and the victim had been consuming alcohol when an argument escalated into physical violence.

During the confrontation, Flute repeatedly pushed the woman, causing her to fall backward and strike her head against a piece of furniture. Flute subsequently helped her stand, and the two went to bed.

The following morning, Flute discovered the woman unresponsive and contacted emergency medical services. She was transported to a hospital, where she remained unconscious until her death on May 27, 2024, six days after the incident.

An autopsy determined that the woman died from blunt-force injuries, primarily involving her head. Medical examiners also documented injuries to her neck, torso, and extremities.

Flute pleaded guilty to second-degree murder under a plea agreement that calls for a 15-year federal prison sentence. Both parties agreed to the proposed sentence, which remains subject to approval by the presiding judge. Flute has not yet been sentenced under the agreement.

Following his prison term, Flute will face a period of supervised release of up to five years. The federal prison system does not provide parole.

The guilty plea was announced on October 23, 2026, by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico and FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris.

The FBI’s Farmington Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department, Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, and Farmington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

The plea establishes Flute’s criminal responsibility for the woman’s death, while the final determination of his sentence remains with the federal court.

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