Navajo Teen Death May Be Hate Crime

Navajo Teen Death May Be Hate Crime

CORTEZ, Colo. (AP) – Tips called in to police suggest the teen accused of killing an openly gay Navajo youth may have been motivated by the victim’s homosexuality.

A tipster told investigators that Shaun Murphy, 18, had bragged that « he had beat up a fag, » according to police affidavits released Wednesday.

Fred C. Martinez’s bludgeoned body was found June 21 near Cortez. Murphy, of Farmington, N.M., is charged with second-degree murder.

Investigators said they also learned that Murphy and the 16-year-old victim attended the same party June 16, the last day Martinez was seen by his family.

Martinez’s classmates and a counselor at Montezuma-Cortez High School have described him as outgoing, happy and well-adjusted to his sexuality. He plucked his eyebrows, wore makeup and carried a purse at school.

Montezuma County Sheriff Joey M. Chavez said Wednesday that investigators could were not certain hate was the motive but were investigating it as a possibility.

The affidavits did not provide any details about Murphy’s alleged statement about beating a homosexual.

The affidavits said Murphy’s friend Clinton Sanchez told police he and Murphy were at a friend’s apartment when Murphy left to get marijuana and returned 20 minutes later covered in blood. Murphy told Sanchez that he had been chased and got into a fight.