\n Posted on: February 7, 2026, 12:28h.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
\n Last updated on: February 6, 2026, 02:29h.\n <\/p>\n
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- A North Dakota man says he did not stab a woman to death inside a tribal casino<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Casino surveillance doesn\u2019t show any person entering or exiting the hotel room<\/strong><\/li>\n
- The suspect says he awoke to find a dead woman in his hotel room<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A North Dakota man accused of stabbing a woman to death inside a tribal casino hotel room has pleaded not guilty.<\/span><\/p>\n
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North Dakota\u2019s Rolette County Sheriff\u2019s Office alleges that Rigoberto Mendez Morales, 58, stabbed a woman to death inside his Sky Dancer Casino & Resort hotel room. Mendez Morales claims to have no recollection of the murder and has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Indian country. (Image: Rolette County Sheriff\u2019s Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Last month, law enforcement officers with the Rolette County Sheriff\u2019s Office responded to the Sky Dancer Casino & Resort in Belcourt, North Dakota, where 58-year-old Rigoberto Mendez Morales said he awoke to find a woman dead in his hotel room<\/a>. The victim was identified as a Native woman enrolled with the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDuring a Zoom appearance in the North Dakota\u2019s US District Court from the Ward County Jail, Mendez Morales, through his Spanish interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree murder within Indian country. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
US Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal ordered that Mendez Morales remain in custody until his jury trial begins on April 14.<\/span><\/p>\n
Affidavit Shines Details<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
The criminal complaint details that at approximately 6:07 am on the morning of Jan. 10, 2026, the Rolette County Sheriff\u2019s Office received a 911 call stating there was a person dead at the Sky Dancer Casino & Resort. Police officers responded to the property, owned and operated by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, where they found Mendez Morales sitting on the hotel room\u2019s bed.<\/span><\/p>\n
A female, identified only by her initials BTM, was located on the floor. Investigators said Mendez Morales had blood on his clothing and face, and his right eye was swollen and bleeding. BTM was determined to have been stabbed to death.<\/span><\/p>\n
Video surveillance from the hotel hallway showed Mendez Morales and BTM enter the room shortly after midnight. No one else entered or exited the room until the police arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n
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When law enforcement detained Mendez Morales, they found he was in possession of a multi-tool (Leatherman-type), which was covered in what appeared to be blood. The FBI later collected the Leatherman multi-tool as evidence pursuant to a search warrant. A substance<\/a> that appeared to be blood was observed on the knife blade of the Leatherman as well as what appeared to be long black human hairs, which law enforcement observed to be consistent with BTM,\u201d the charging complaint detailed.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cMendez Morales stated he consumed three alcoholic drinks while gambling. Mendez Morales did not recall returning to his room. Mendez Morales could not recall why he had blood on his pants, shirt, and multi-tool, and denied touching BTM when he saw she was on the floor and covered in blood. Mendez Morales stated he woke up on his bed and saw BTM was not moving,\u201d the affidavit continued.<\/span><\/p>\n
Possible Sentence<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
The US attorney alleges that Mendez Morales \u201cdid unlawfully kill a human being, namely, BTM, an Indian, with malice aforethought.\u201d The federal crime is prosecuted under the Major Crimes Act.<\/span><\/p>\n
- Casino surveillance doesn\u2019t show any person entering or exiting the hotel room<\/strong><\/li>\n