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JUNE 29, 2001

Federal authorities in Nebraska on Thursday charged two adults and implicated three juveniles in connection with the beating death of an Omaha Nation tribal member.

US Attorney Michael G. Heavican charged Angel Merrick, 21, and Kareem Lakota Robinson, who just turned 18 in March, with manslaughter. Both are accused of participating in the death of Brandon Horn, 21, whose body was found in a field on the Omaha Reservation last Saturday.

Heavican declined to discuss why the pair were not charged with a more serious crime than manslaughter. Both face up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines for the alleged crime.

Both are currently in custody in Omaha, awaiting their first appearance tomorrow in federal district court. Merrick, a tribal member, is female.

Heavican could not release the criminal complaints filed against Merrick and Robinson because three juveniles are also implicated. The status of their case or any charges against them cannot be released nor can their ages, said Heavican.

Clerks in the district court told Indianz.Com they have received requests for the documents but all are sealed, said Heavican. The complaint alleges both did "unlawfully kill" Horn on June 23.

FBI officials in Nebraska credited federal agents, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Omaha tribal police with moving quickly on Horn's case. After he was found in a field north of Macy, the FBI sent special evidence response team to the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Saturday night.

Five people were then questioned by tribal police on Monday. Heavican said Merrick and Robinson were never specifically arrested for the death of Horn. Instead, they were were being held for other reasons when he charged them yesterday.

But sources on the reservation said the presence of a videotape of the alleged attack lead to the incriminations. The FBI would neither confirm nor deny the existence of a tape nor whether they had it in their possession. No evidence is discussed because the case is ongoing, said a spokesperson.

Horn was buried in Macy on Wednesday.

Related Stories:
Action on Omaha death delayed (6/28)
Death of Omaha man being investigated (6/27)
BIA audit slams Omaha Tribe's police force (5/8)