A New Mexico man accused of kidnapping and killing an 11-year-old girl on Navajo Nation land pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.
Tom Begaye, 27, offered a ride to Ashlynne Mike and her 9-year-old brother and abducted them on Monday because he intended to sexually assault her, according to court documents, NBC News reported.
He was arrested on Tuesday, and he confessed to the killing. After driving the children on a dirt road, Begaye led Ashlynne away from the van and hit her with a tire iron, NBC News reported, citing the criminal complaint.
Begaye was charged with murder, kidnapping, kidnapping of a minor and committing a crime on an Indian reservation, NBC News reported. If convicted, he could face a life sentence in prison.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- What We Know So Far About the Deadly Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
- Beyoncé's Album of the Year Snub Fits Into the Grammys' Long History of Overlooking Black Women
- How the U.S. Shot Down the Alleged Chinese Spy Balloon
- Effective Altruism Has a Toxic Culture of Sexual Harassment and Abuse, Women Say
- Inside Bolsonaro's Surreal New Life as a Florida Man—and MAGA Darling
- 'Return to Office' Plans Spell Trouble for Working Moms
- 8 Ways to Read More Books—and Why You Should
- Why Aren't Movies Sexy Anymore?
- How Logan Paul's Crypto Empire Fell Apart