2 sentenced for helping cover up murder of Navajo man in Arizona

Two people were sentenced for their part in concealing the 2024 murder of a Navajo man in Arizona, officials announced.

Marlin Leon Nez, 45, and Megan Ashley Yarber, 36, were sentenced to time-served after being in prison for more than 16 months, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Nez and Yarber previously pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.

In addition to the prison time, they were ordered to pay restitution for the expenses the victim’s family incurred while searching for him.

On July 11, 2024, Wendell Draper, a Navajo man, shot and killed the victim inside of Nez’s home. Nez proceeded to help Draper wrap the victim’s body and put it into the victim’s vehicle, court documents said.

Draper then drove to a rural location and buried the victim’s body before driving somewhere else and burning the car. He was then picked up by Yarber, who drove him back to Nez’s residence.

Nez and Yarber did not notify authorities about the murder.

After the murder, the victim’s family reported him missing and searched for weeks before his body was recovered and returned to them.

Draper was shot and killed after he allegedly pointed a gun at law enforcement officers while they were attempting to arrest him.

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