Update: Murder Suspect Arrested

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 9:21 PM

Raheem Benally was later identified as the suspect and a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of second degree murder and tampering with evidence. Detectives learned he was in the Shiprock area and obtained an extradition warrant approved by the Navajo Nation. Farmington police took Benally into custody without incident around 7:00 this evening. He was transported to the San Juan County Detention Center where he was booked on the warrant.

Update from Farmington Police 12/13/18:

Farmington police arrested 24-year-old Raheem Benally of Farmington in connection with a homicide that took place yesterday. Officers were dispatched around 6:19 last night to Brothers Avenue in reference to a man, later identified as 37-year-old Philbert Vanwinkle of Farmington, lying in the road. The reporting party informed dispatch the man was bleeding and didn’t appear to be breathing. Officers arrived on scene and found Vanwinkle to be deceased with apparent multiple stab wounds. Two persons of interest were initially detained for questioning and then released. Benally was later identified as the suspect and a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of second degree murder and tampering with evidence. Detectives learned he was in the Shiprock area and obtained an extradition warrant approved by the Navajo Nation. Farmington police took Benally into custody without incident around 7:00 this evening. He was transported to the San Juan County Detention Center where he was booked on the warrant.

The Farmington Police Department would like to thank the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Nation prosecutors for their assistance.

From Farmington Police 12/12/18:

Farmington police were dispatched around 6:19 this evening to Brothers Avenue in reference to a man laying in the road. The reporting party informed dispatch the man was bleeding and didn’t appear to be breathing. Officers arrived on scene and found the man to be deceased. Two persons of interest who were in the area have been detained for questioning. The incident is being investigated as a homicide. We’ll continue to provide updates as they become available.

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