{{Short description|American murderer (1981–2020)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox murderer | name = Lezmond Mitchell | image = Lezmond-Mitchell-Fed.webp | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1981|9|17}} | birth_place = Fort Defiance, Arizona, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|8|26|1981|9|17}} | death_place = USP Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | criminal_status = Executed by lethal injection | alias = | conviction = First degree murder (2 counts)<br>Carjacking resulting in death<br>Kidnapping resulting in death<br>Use of a firearm during a crime of violence (2 counts)<ref name="lcm1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnhinews.com/cnhi/article_7068b58e-e804-11ea-be1d-db5fe6822cdc.html |title=Lezmond Charles Mitchell executed for 2001 murder of child, grandmother |author=Lisa Trigg |work=CNHI News |date=August 26, 2020 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> | sentence = Death (September 15, 2003) | partners = | victims = 2 | beginyear = | endyear = | country = United States | states = Arizona | apprehended = November 4, 2001 | date = October 28, 2001 }}
'''Lezmond Charles Mitchell''' (September 17, 1981 – August 26, 2020) was a Native American criminal who was executed by the United States federal government for the 2001 murders of a woman and her granddaughter in Arizona. The murders were committed during the course of a carjacking, and since this is qualified as a federal offense, Mitchell was tried and convicted in federal court. His case sparked controversy as the Navajo Nation tribe he was a part of openly opposed the government's plans for his execution, along with Mitchell himself maintaining that he was involved in the murders but was not the mastermind behind them. Mitchell was the only Native American on federal death row up until his execution via lethal injection on August 26, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mack|first1=Justin L.|last2=Castle|first2=Lauren|last3=Martin|first3=Ryan|date=August 26, 2020|title='I have waited 19 years to get justice': Lezmond Mitchell executed inside federal prison in Terre Haute|work=The Indianapolis Star|url=https://indystar.com/story/news/crime/2020/08/26/lezmond-mitchell-executed-terre-haute/3442929001/|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>
== Early life == Lezmond Charles Mitchell was born in Fort Defiance, Arizona, on September 17, 1981. Born 1/4 Navajo, 1/4 White, and 1/2 Marshallese, Mitchell was of Native American heritage.<ref name="lcm2">{{Cite web |url=https://aninjusticemag.com/the-sun-sets-on-the-plains-85bd81529a1f |title=The Sun Set On The Plains: Lezmond Mitchell lived a tragic, chaotic life and it ended when he became the first Native American federally executed |author=Ethan Biando |work=An Injustice! |date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017003107/https://aninjusticemag.com/the-sun-sets-on-the-plains-85bd81529a1f |url-status=dead }}</ref> He and his family were a part of the Navajo Nation tribe.
Mitchell was raised by his grandparents George and Bobbi Jo who were allegedly abusive. In his early years, his grandparents beat him with a variety of objects; a ruler, broom handles, and appliance parts to be exact. As a result of the beatings Mitchell developed depression, cognitive disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. This also led to him struggling with his weight and his Native American heritage, as he believed that he was not a "true Navajo." In his 6th grade year, Mitchell was moved to California to live with his mother. She was reportedly controlling and abusive, and asked Mitchell's peers to report back to her on his behavior. She required Mitchell to check in with her every 30 minutes. His mother also mocked his weight and often ranted about wasting money on food for him.<ref name="lcm2"/>
The emotional abuse Mitchell endured led him to start abusing drugs and alcohol. He also ran away from home. At 14 years old Mitchell had his first run in with the law after he vandalized a bathroom wall. He graduated high school as an honors student in 2000.<ref name="lcm2"/>
== Murders == In 2001, Mitchell crossed paths with 16-year-old Johnny Theodore Orsinger, a teenager who had been involved in the carjacking and double murder of 47-year-old David Begay and 30-year-old Jasbert Sam on August 28.<ref name="lcm3">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111419968/life-sentences-handed-out-to-quadruple/ |title=Life sentences handed out to quadruple murderer |author=Dennis Wagner |work=Arizona Republic |date=December 9, 2003 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> In October, the two made their own plans for a carjacking and murder. On October 28, 2001, Mitchell and Orsinger were hitchhiking when they were picked up by 63-year-old Alyce Slim and her 9-year-old granddaughter Tiffany Lee. Slim and Lee were returning home after a visit to two women in Gallup.<ref name="lcm4">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111371300/federal-death-sentence-imposed-in-2/ |title=Federal death sentence imposed in 2 murders |author=Carol Sowers |work=Arizona Republic |date=September 16, 2003 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> Slim drove Mitchell and Orsinger to their requested location, but when there both attacked her and Lee; The duo produced a knife and stabbed both multiple times, with Mitchell slitting Lee's throat, bludgeoning Slim with rocks and stabbing her to death. Afterwards, when both were dead, they dragged their bodies into the nearby woods, decapitated their bodies and lit them on fire.<ref name="lcm5">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111434814/us-trial-begins-in-double-murder/ |title=U.S. trial begins in double murder |author=Susan Carroll |work=Arizona Republic |date=April 30, 2003 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> Then, they buried the remains in a shallow grave. They then carjacked their vehicle and kept it in their possession. On October 31, three days after the murders, three armed men robbed the Red Rock Trading Post Office while wearing Halloween masks, and used Slim's vehicle as a getaway car. They ended up abandoning the car on November 1 and attempted to light it on fire.<ref name="lcm6">{{Cite web |author=Larry Hendricks |date=December 5, 2001 |title=6 accused of murdering 4 on Navajo Nation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111432129/6-accused-of-murdering-4-on-navajo/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |work=Arizona Daily Sun}}</ref>
== Legal proceedings == As a result of a large investigation, on November 4 and 5, 2001, the Navajo Nation Strategic Reaction Team surrounded the Round Rock residences of Mitchell, Orsinger, 34-year-old Teddy Orsinger, 20-year-old George Nakai, 23-year-old Jimmy Nakai Jr., Danny Leal, and Jason Kinlicheenie on suspicion of being involved in the murders, with most of them being present at the Begay and Sam murders.<ref name="lcm6"/> They were captured, and in November, a federal grand jury indicted Mitchell on 11 counts, including kidnapping, carjacking, robbery and murder.<ref name="mjt7">{{cite news |title=Indictment returned in reservation murders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111433840/indictment-returned-in-reservation/ |work=Arizona Republic |date=November 22, 2001 |access-date=October 16, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Docket for United States v. Mitchell, 3:01-cr-01062 - CourtListener.com |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15989203/united-states-v-mitchell/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=CourtListener |language=en-us}}</ref>
Since he was being tried federally, prosecutors sought a death sentence. The Navajo Department of Justice openly opposed the prosecutors plans to seek the death penalty in a statement in 2002. Orsinger, since he was juvenile, was ordered to be tried separately.<ref name="mjt8">{{cite news |title=First-degree murder verdict in beheadings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111419145/first-degree-murder-verdict-in/ |work=Arizona Republic |date=May 10, 2003 |access-date=October 16, 2022 }}</ref> The Orsingers, the Nakais, Leal, and Kinlicheenie were all convicted for their roles in the Begay and Sam murders and sentenced to life in prison.<ref name="lcm3"/> Mitchell's trial began in April 2003, and lasted a month. Mitchell's lawyers maintained that, while their client was present at the time of the killings, he was not the one that perpetrated them, but instead Orsinger was the actual mastermind behind it.<ref name="lcm5"/> On May 8, Mitchell was convicted on all counts and sentenced to death.<ref name="mjt19">{{cite news |title=Federal Death Penalty Inmates Scheduled for Execution |url=https://heavy.com/news/2019/07/federal-death-penalty-inmates-scheduled-execution/ |work=Heavy.com |date=July 25, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2022 }}</ref> On September 15, he was formally sentenced to death by Judge Mary H. Murguia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sowers|first=Carol|title=Federal death sentence imposed in 2 murders|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-federal-death-sentence/111371300/|newspaper=The Arizona Republic|date=September 16, 2003|page=21|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lezmond Charles Mitchell Inmate Register Number 48685-008|url=https://www.bop.gov/resources/pdfs/offender_information_mitchell_new.pdf|work=Federal Bureau of Prisons|access-date=June 4, 2023}}</ref> Orsinger was convicted later in December for his role in the Slim and Lee murders and given another life sentence.<ref name="lcm3"/>
Orsinger was later granted a resentencing hearing as a result of the ''Miller v. Alabama'' and ''Montgomery v. Louisiana'' rulings. However, a federal judge resentenced to life in prison after a hearing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USA V. JOHNNY ORSINGER, No. 15-10412 (9th Cir. 2017) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/15-10412/15-10412-2017-10-06.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, Mitchell argued his case to a three-judge panel. He claimed that his original defense team was ineffective, though the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit counter-argued that Mitchell's defense had been "thorough in the extreme" and upheld his sentence.<ref name="mtj16">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111636262/conviction-death-sentence-upheld-in/ |title=Conviction, death sentence upheld in 2001 Navajo double-murder |author=Soyenixe Lopez |work=Arizona Daily Sun |date=June 21, 2015 |access-date=October 19, 2022}}</ref> During the presidency of Donald Trump, Mitchell was one of several condemned men on federal death row selected to be executed. He was first scheduled to be executed on December 11, 2019, and would have been the first person executed by the federal government since the execution of Louis Jones Jr. in 2003. Mitchell's attorneys in the meantime sought a stay of execution to investigate possible racial bias by the jury who convicted him.<ref name="mjt13">{{cite news |date=October 9, 2019 |title=Execution of Navajo man placed on hold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111561472/execution-of-navajo-man-placed-on-hold/ |access-date=October 18, 2022 |work=Arizona Daily Star}}</ref>
Shortly before the scheduled execution, the U.S. Court of Appeals granted the stay while it resolved an additional appeal.<ref name="mtj9">{{Cite web |url=https://breaking911.com/ag-barr-orders-new-execution-date-for-lezmond-mitchell-convicted-in-horrific-murder-of-woman-and-her-9-year-old-granddaughter/ |title=AG Barr Orders New Execution Date For Lezmond Mitchell, Convicted In Horrific Murder of Woman and Her 9-Year-Old Granddaughter |author=T. Grant Benson |work=Beaking911 |date=July 29, 2020 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> In May 2020, a federal court in Arizona denied Mitchell an opportunity to interview former jurors, and the decision was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals.<ref name="mjt14">{{cite news |title=Navajo on death row denied |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111561921/navajo-on-death-row-denied/ |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |date=May 2, 2020 |access-date=October 18, 2022 }}</ref>
== Execution == [[File:TerreHauteUSP.jpg|270px|right|thumb|USP Terre Haute, where Mitchell was executed]] In July 2020, U.S. attorney general William Barr scheduled Mitchell's execution to occur on August 26. During this time, executions by the federal government started up again, and three inmates were executed that month, with Mitchell scheduled to be the fourth. In early August Mitchell's attorneys sought a delay of execution and argued that it should be performed in Arizona rather than be conducted by the federal government. Judge David Campbell rejected the proposal.<ref name="mtj20">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111789096/navajo-man-loses-latest-bid-to-delay/ |title=Navajo man loses latest bid to delay federal execution |author=Felicia Fonseca |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=August 14, 2020 |pages=A14 |access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref>
On the day of his execution, numerous protesters stood outside the Federal Correction Complex to protest Mitchell's execution. Mitchell was brought into the execution room in USP Terre Haute at 6:03 pm, where he was strapped to a gurney and injected with a fatal dose of pentobarbital. When asked if he would like to make a final statement he replied "No, I'm good". At 6:29 p.m. he went unresponsive and was declared dead, with the execution officially concluding.<ref name="lcm1"/> Up until his death, Mitchell was the only Native American on federal death row.<ref name="mtj11">{{Cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2020/08/27/native-american-lezmond-mitchell-executed-in-indiana/ |title=Native American Lezmond Mitchell executed in Indiana |author=Joshua Rhett Miller |work=New York Post |date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> His body was subsequently cremated and his ashes were given to Navajo Nation tribal members.
According to Christopher Vialva, another federal death row inmate who would be executed 29 days after Mitchell, Mitchell spoke to no one in the week leading up to his execution.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2020/09/20/federal-executions-christopher-vialva/ |title=Trump Prepares To Execute Christopher Vialva For A Crime He Committed As A Teenager |author=Liliana Segura |work=The Intercept |date=September 20, 2020 |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230607094906/https://theintercept.com/2020/09/20/federal-executions-christopher-vialva/ |archive-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref>
=== Controversies === The execution was controversial, as the Navajo Nation tribe he was a part of openly opposed to having Mitchell executed. Mitchell's attorneys attacked the U.S. government's decision to execute him in a public statement and accused them of injustice against Native Americans;
:"Mr. Mitchell's execution represents a gross insult to the sovereignty of Navajo Nation, whose leaders had personally called on the President to commute his sentence to life without the possibility of release. The very fact that he faced execution despite the tribe's opposition to a death sentence for him reflected the government's disdain to tribal sovereignty".<ref name="mtj12">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111560566/us-executes-only-native-american-on/ |title=U.S. executes only Native American on death row |author=Lisa Trigg |work=Vincennes Sun-Commercial |date=August 28, 2020 |access-date=October 18, 2022}}</ref>
They also brought up that, under federal law, Native American tribes can decide whether they want their citizens subjected to the death penalty and Navajo Nation opposed the death penalty;<ref name="mtj17">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111666251/navajo-man-asks-to-halt-execution-while/ |title=Navajo man asks to halt execution while seeking clemency |author=Michael Balsamo |work=Arizona Daily Sun |date=August 26, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref> however, since Mitchell was convicted under federal law of carjacking (which is a federal crime no matter who committed it), this made the tribe unable to interfere.<ref name="mtj18">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111666799/navajo-nation-wants-more-say-over/ |title=Navajo Nation wants more say over criminal justice matters |author=Felicia Fonseca |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=August 30, 2020 |pages=A11 |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref> The family of Slim and Lee supported the execution and stated it brought them closure.<ref name="mtj10">{{Cite web |url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/23/execution-of-native-american-man-stirs-emotion-wit/ |title=Execution of Native American man stirs emotion within tribe |author=Felicia Fonseca |work=The Washington Times |date=August 23, 2020 |access-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230611142055/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/23/execution-of-native-american-man-stirs-emotion-wit/ |archive-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> Lee's father, Daniel, said that no matter how much Navajo Nation objects, they do not represent him:
:"He took my daughter away, and no remorse or anything like that. The Navajo Nation president, the council, they don't speak for me. I speak for myself and for my daughter."<ref name="mjt15">{{cite news |title=Supreme Court denies killer Lezmond Mitchell's stay request; execution set for Wednesday |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/supreme-court-denies-killer-lezmond-mitchells-stay-request-execution-set-for-wednesday |work=Fox News |date=October 19, 2022 |access-date=October 19, 2022 }}</ref>
== See also == * Capital punishment by the United States federal government * List of people executed by the United States federal government * List of people executed in the United States in 2020
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out by the United States federal government {{s-bef|before=Dustin Lee Honken|before2=<div style="font-weight: normal">July 17, 2020</div>}} {{s-ttl|title=Lezmond Mitchell|years=August 26, 2020}} {{s-aft|after=Keith Nelson|after2=<div style="font-weight: normal">August 28, 2020</div>}} |- ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out in the United States {{s-bef|before=Dustin Lee Honken – Federal government|before2=<div style="font-weight: normal">July 17, 2020</div>}} {{s-ttl|title=Lezmond Mitchell – Federal government|years=August 26, 2020}} {{s-aft|after=Keith Nelson – Federal government|after2=<div style="font-weight: normal">August 28, 2020</div>}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Lezmond Charles}} Category:1981 births Category:2020 deaths Category:2001 murders in the United States Category:21st-century American murderers Category:21st-century executions of American people Category:21st-century executions by the United States federal government Category:American murderers of children Category:American people executed for murder Category:American people convicted of kidnapping Category:Criminals from Arizona Category:Executed Native American people Category:People convicted of murder by the United States federal government Category:People executed by the United States federal government by lethal injection Category:People from Fort Defiance, Arizona Category:People with antisocial personality disorder Category:Violence against women in Arizona