ALBUQUERQUE – A Thoreau woman was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter Aug. 4 for driving while intoxicated and fatally striking John Doe with her vehicle following an altercation.
According to court records, on the morning of May 28, 2023, Nora Abeita, 50, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and several others, including John Doe, consumed alcohol together. After an altercation with John Doe, Abeita attempted to leave the residence with a friend. While driving away, Abeita allegedly struck John Doe with her vehicle and did not immediately realize she had run over him until alerted by others. John Doe died from his injuries.
Abeita’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at .19 approximately five hours after the incident, more than double the legal limit in both New Mexico and the Navajo Nation…