Belcourt (trfnews.i234.me) – Federal charges have been filed against Rigoberto Mendez-Morales in connection with a January 10th murder at Sky Dancer Casino and Resort in Belcourt. The victim, a female tribal member, was found dead in her hotel room. The case is being prosecuted in federal court due to the victim’s tribal membership.
Details of the Incident
At approximately 6:07 a.m. on January 10th, the Roulette County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a dead person at Sky Dancer Casino. The caller was later identified as Rigoberto Mendez-Morales, who claimed to have woken up to find the woman, identified by her initials BTM, dead in the room. When law enforcement arrived, they found Mendez-Morales sitting on the bed, while BTM was lying on the floor, unresponsive and covered in blood.
Investigation and Evidence
Upon inspection, Mendez-Morales appeared to have blood on his clothes and face, and he had a visible injury to his right eye. Law enforcement noted that BTM had been stabbed several times. A multi-tool, a Leatherman, was found in Mendez-Morales’ possession, with what appeared to be blood on the tool and human hairs that matched the victim’s.
Security footage from the casino showed that Mendez-Morales and BTM were the only people who entered the room from the time of the crime until the arrival of law enforcement. The FBI later confirmed that the Leatherman tool found on Mendez-Morales contained evidence consistent with the crime.
Mendez-Morales’ Statement
During an FBI interview, Mendez-Morales admitted to gambling at the casino and drinking three glasses of wine but claimed not to remember returning to his room. He also denied any involvement in the victim’s death, stating he did not know how he got blood on his clothing or the multi-tool. He said he woke up to find BTM lying on the floor and unresponsive.
Legal Proceedings
Mendez-Morales is facing federal charges of murder related to the incident. The investigation is ongoing as authorities piece together the details of the crime.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.