Federal charges filed against man in deadly casino stabbing

BELCOURT, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – Federal charges have been filed against a man accused of stabbing a woman to death at a casino and hotel on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in north central North Dakota.

Rigoberto Mendez-Morales is charged with 2nd degree murder within Indian Country. He was previously charged with one count of Felony AA murder in Rolette County.

The Rolette County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Mendez-Morales just after 6 AM on Jan. 10 about a dead person at the Sky Dancer Casino and Resort.

Mendez-Morales told deputies that he woke up in a hotel room and the woman was dead on the floor.

Responding deputies say the woman was covered in blood, cold to the touch and had no pulse. She appeared to have been stabbed several times.

Mendez-Morales had blood on his pants, shirt and face. He also had an injury to his right eye that was swollen and bleeding.

Security cameras at Sky Dancer Casino and Resort show Mendez-Morales and the woman were the only two people to enter the hotel room.

When law enforcement detained Mendez-Morales, they found he was in possession of a Leatherman-type multi-tool that was covered in blood.

The FBI interviewed Mendez-Morales who said he recalled consuming three drinks while gambling at the casino, but doesn’t remember returning to the hotel room.

Mendez-Morales told investigators he doesn’t remember why there was blood on his clothes and pocket knife.

Investigators have not released the woman’s name, but say she is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.