Zhondee Spring Nephi of Fort Duchesne has been indicted in U.S. District Court on a charge of murder. According to FBI Public Affairs Specialist Sandra Yi Barker, the body of a female was discovered on a road northwest of Whiterocks
on Wednesday, August 23rd.
“The body was found under suspicious circumstances and [was] investigated as a homicide,” shared Barker. “The victim [was] identified as 20-year-old Sukakee Manyhides.” The FBI reported that 30-year-old Zhondee Spring Nephi was arrested in the early morning of
August 26th
in connection with the murder and was placed in tribal custody. The Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Indian Affair worked with the FBI on the investigation. Zhondee Nephi received unrelated state charges in November while in the Duchesne County Jail after allegedly being involved with strip searches of inmates. According to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office, security video showed an inmate confronting Nephi after a strip search and Nephi grabbed the women “by the throat and punched her in the face.” In that case, Nephi is facing charges of Forcible Sexual Abuse and Assault By A Prisoner.
