Kendra Panteah, a woman from New Mexico, pleaded guilty to kidnapping a man named John Doe in July 2019. Panteah did not kill or stab the victim, but was involved in the incident where another man, Gilbert John Jr., fatally stabbed John Doe. The pair had used drugs, including methamphetamine, prior to the killing. After the crime, John drove the victim’s car with the body in it to a remote location and set it on fire to cover up the murder. Panteah admitted to driving with others in the victim’s car, where John Doe was put in the trunk after causing trouble. While driving to Gallup, she asked John for help, and they ended up driving with the victim still locked in the trunk. The man eventually broke out and John stabbed him repeatedly with a machete. Panteah did not participate in the stabbing but was present during the incident. Panteah could face a minimum of 10 years and up to a maximum of 18 years in prison when she is sentenced on January 27. Her attorney stated that Panteah was influenced by drugs and alcohol during the events, and believes the tragedy could have been prevented if everyone involved had been sober. Both Panteah and John identified themselves as belonging to Native American tribes – Zuni and Navajo, respectively.
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