Shiprock man pleads guilty to killing wife

FARMINGTON — A Shiprock man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in federal court in the death of his wife.

Larry June, 58, pleaded guilty to the voluntary manslaughter charge today as part of a plea agreement, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.

June was arrested on Nov. 29, and indicted on Dec. 20 on second-degree murder on accusations of stabbing his wife Lucy June to death with a knife on Nov. 25, near Sheep Springs, according to the Daily Times archives.

During today's court hearing, June admitted to stabbing the victim multiple times with a knife following a "heated" argument, according to the press release.

Lucy — identified as Jane Doe in the criminal complaint — was found unresponsive and bleeding from multiple wounds by Navajo Nation police officers and emergency medical services on Nov. 25, according to court documents. Lifesaving measures were started but were not successful.

Witnesses heard Lucy and Larry have an agreement inside a trailer the couple were selling food out of at a traditional Navajo ceremony held east of U.S. Highway 491.

They later observed a man standing over Lucy and heard her identify Larry as the man who stabbed her, according to court documents. Larry was later located on Nov. 26 at a house in Shiprock.

June could receive a sentence of eight years and one month in federal prison and an undetermined term of supervised release at a future sentencing hearing.