After years of searching for answers, the mother of a New Mexico musician who was slain in 2020 says the FBI has uncovered a promising new lead.
Evangeline "Vangie" Randall-Shorty has endured years of anguish since her son, Zachariah Shorty, vanished from a motel in Farmington, New Mexico, on July 21, 2020. His lifeless body, bearing gunshot wounds, was discovered four days later in a field on the Navajo Reservation.
In a search for justice, Randall-Shorty has tirelessly pursued every possible lead and worked closely with investigators. Now, she reports that the FBI has uncovered a potentially breakthrough lead.
New Lead Emerges in New Mexico Musician's Cold Case Murder
"I got a call from the FBI that they had a new lead," Randall-Shorty told Fox News Digital. "I'm just hoping and praying that that is the lead that we need to solve Zach's case."
The FBI has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. However, Randall-Shorty and her attorney, Darlene Gomez, remain optimistic.
New Lead Emerges in New Mexico Musician's Cold Case Murder
Gomez emphasizes the presence of witnesses in the motel room with Zachariah before his disappearance. "The family has provided many, many leads," she said. "There's a body that was found. It's a small community."
Despite the passage of time, Gomez believes the case can be solved, citing the availability of surveillance footage from nearby businesses. However, she notes that several witnesses have passed away during the investigation.
New Lead Emerges in New Mexico Musician's Cold Case Murder
The FBI maintains jurisdiction in this case due to the discovery of Zachariah's remains on tribal land. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Randall-Shorty shares that the FBI has inquired about her recognition of certain individuals. She has provided names that she believes are relevant to the investigation. "After the update from them (the FBI), I did get another tip, and I passed the information to them as well," she said.
New Lead Emerges in New Mexico Musician's Cold Case Murder
Randall-Shorty's relentless pursuit of justice is fueled by the belief that Zachariah deserves a proper resolution to this tragic chapter. She continues to urge anyone with knowledge about the case to reach out to the FBI at 505-889-1300 or tips.fbi.gov.
