ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — A Thoreau, New Mexico woman pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to a fatal drunk driving incident. Nora Abeita, 50, is facing up to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
Court records show Abeita and John Doe, among others, drank alcohol together on May 28, 2023. After a fight with John Doe, Abeita tried to leave with a friend. While driving off, she struck John Doe with the vehicle. He died from his injuries. Abeita did not initially realize she had run over him, and had to be alerted by others to the incident. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Abeita’s blood alcohol level measured at .16 about five hours after the event, which is more than double the legal limit in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation.
Abeita is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case with help from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall.