Law
Tribal members charged with murder on reservation


Two tribal members, plus a third person, have been charged with murdering a woman on the Narragansett Reservation in Rhode Island and the dumping the body in a river in Connecticut.

Tawanna N. Sampson, 29, is a member of the Narragansett Tribe. Her co-defendant, Shonda M. Northup, 24, is a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

The two women are charged with murder and conspiracy in the killing of Stacie Ann Brissett on July 26. Along with Shea Cook, 21, they are accused of shooting Brissett to avenge the death of Brissett's live-in boyfriend, Dwayne Sampson, who was the brother of Sampson and Northup. Cook, whose tribal affiliation, if any, was not reported, is a cousin.

Northup's uncle is Kenneth Reels, the vice chairman of the Mashantucket tribe, The Westerly Sun reported.

Get the Story:
Suspects in woman's slaying appear in court (The Providence Journal 9/8)
pwpwd
SLAYING SUSPECTS APPEAR IN COURT (The Westerly Sun 9/8)