BIA seeks help locating Pueblo man who went missing on May 25

Wednesday, June 3, 2015  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is asking the public for helping in locating a man who went missing from Ohkay Owingeh in New Mexico.

Benjamin Youngbear, 28, was last seen on May 25. He is described as being 6 feet tall, weighing 215 pounds, and with numerous tattoos.

“The circumstances surrounding Youngbear’s disappearance have law enforcement officials concerned about his safety and well-being,” the BIA said in a press release quoted by the New Mexico media.

Youngbear, who was born on the Crow Reservation, and his family have suffered numerous tragedies over the years. His mother died when he was seven and his father died when he was 12.

Youngbear and his siblings were later sent from Montana, where they were living at the time of their father's death in 1999, to Ohkay Owingeh. Their maternal grandmother is from the Pueblo.

Youngbear later pleaded guilty of battery in connection with a fight with one of his sisters. That sibling, Yvette Youngbear, died on March 5, according to her obituary.

Anyone with information about Benjamin Youngbear asked to contact the BIA at 505-455-2295 or the Ohkay Owingeh police at 505-753-5555 option 7.

Get the Story:
BIA seeks help in finding missing northern NM man (The Albuquerque Journal 6/3)
BIA seeks missing Ohkay Owingeh man (The Santa Fe New Mexican 6/3)