Havasupai murderer charged

[PrestonSands]

Arrest in tourist slaying in northern Arizona
Associated Press
Dec. 8, 2006 01:37 PM

FLAGSTAFF — An 18-year-old man was charged in the May kidnapping, robbery and killing of a female Japanese tourist in Havasupai Falls this spring.

A federal grand jury indicted Randy Wescogame on Tuesday on charges of first degree murder, murder-robbery, robbery, murder-kidnapping and kidnapping in the killing of Tomomi Hanamure, 34, of Tokyo.

Wescogame, a member of the Havasupai Indian tribe, has been held by tribal authorities since May on unrelated assault charges. He was transferred Friday to federal custody and brought before a federal magistrate for an initial appearance in Flagstaff.

The indictment alleges that Wescogame willfully murdered the woman, who was traveling alone, in the course of kidnapping and robbing her on May 8.

“The facts underlying the indictment reflect the last moments of a young lady who came from Japan to enjoy the beauty of this country, and who, instead, met a senseless and tragic end to her life,” said U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton. “Our thoughts remain with Ms. Hanamure's family during this difficult time.”

Hanamure disappeared on May 8 after checking into a lodge on the Havasupai Indian Reservation and taking a hike to the Havasupai Falls.

She was reported missing the next day after a housekeeper found her bed apparently unused, with some of her belongings and passport still in her room.

On May 13, four days after the Coconino County Sheriff's Office and Bureau of Indian Affairs started search and rescue operations, a group of swimmers discovered her body floating in a pool beneath a waterfall.

An autopsy determined that Hanamure was stabbed 29 times but there was no sign that she was assaulted sexually.

After her body was discovered, an FBI dive team found some of her belongings, though not her cell phone, credit cards and cash.

She had arrived in Los Angeles the week before her death and visited several tourist spots before driving a rental car to Arizona, sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair said in May. She parked the car on the Grand Canyon's South Rim, leaving most of her possessions inside, then hiked down to the lodge, where she checked in.

Federal and local agencies investigated the case, and the FBI offered a $5,000 reward.

After the death, tribal officials clamped down on releasing any information, declining to discuss the case.

Most Japanese tourists who visit northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon travel in large groups, often by bus, but Hanamure usually traveled by herself, Blair said.

He said she had been on hiking trails in the Grand Canyon a number of times previously and avidly pursued similar outdoor tourist activities in other parts of the world.

Supai is a canyon 3,000 feet deep that can be reached only by foot, helicopter or on a pack animal.

The indictment accused Wescogame of acting with “malice aforethought” in carrying out the robbery. It said the woman's camera, cell phone, cash, credit cards “and other things of value” were taken.

John Lewis, FBI special agent in charge in Phoenix, said such crimes in isolated areas are difficult to solve and often take time to secure enough evidence to indict someone despite leads and investigative efforts.

Wescogame is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Tuesday in Flagstaff.

Conviction on any of the charges except robbery could bring up to a life sentence, $250,000 fine or both. A robbery conviction could impose a maximum of 15 years in prison, $250,000 fine or both.

[Tough_Boots]

There are horror stories on a lot of trails. One of my favorite hikes back home in Georgia is Blood Mountain-- which is now known mostly for the brutal murder and decapitation of a 24 year old girl back in 2008.

[Philnation]

You can view the area for yourself via any of the 15 photosets posted since last July alone, listed mid left screen... http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=58 It's not the same, but I'm sure you'd really like it regardless.

I think your time would be better used worrying about the value of the pecos in China than getting murdered at Havasu

Thank you, and point well taken. I suppose I was more worried about driving 6 hours only to find a place destroyed with litter/graffiti...which would be a shame, but not the end of the world. I suppose it's still worth seeing for myself.

[azbackpackr]

Plan carefully. It's nice in October, April, early May. In the summer it gets really hot, and a lot of people start hiking at 1 or 2 in the morning to beat the heat. Once you are in camp in summer there is some shade, and of course, you can swim.

Look at the website and figure out the earliest date you can get a reservation--they have a cut-off date, it will say on there when it is. Reservations go very quickly at certain times of the year. If you can go on weekdays you will have a better chance.

Also, if you plan to go there you may as well do the hike down to the Colorado River. That takes literally all day, it is something like 16 miles round trip from the campsites. So plan to spend at least three nights there, so you will also have time to swim in all the different pools AND hike to the river.

[big_load]

November is nice, too. Swimming won't be so appealing then, but the crowds are thinned out considerably and we didn't see any trash or poor sanitation. Loose dogs foraging created a serious hazard of being licked, though.

[azbackpackr]

I went once in a cold April when swimming was doable but was not comfortable for everyone. The water temperature stays about the same year round, they say. I was getting over a very bad cough and did not swim much. The main reason I like going there is for the swimming, though. You can make your way downstream from Mooney Falls and find all sorts of really cool places to swim and play.