Youth's death remains under investigation

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SHIPROCK — Authorities still don't know what Tate Talk was doing during the last week of his life but are one step closer to the completed autopsy reports.

Talk, 15, of Shiprock, was found Jan. 30 at 3:46 p.m. south of Ace Hardware on Highway 491 in Shiprock and had been previously reported missing by his family. The missing persons report was filed on Jan. 25, but Talk hadn't been seen by anyone since the 23rd when, according to the FBI, he was at a party with his friends.

"The case is still under investigation, but so far nobody has been charged and no complaint has been filed," said Bill Elwell, FBI special agent. "As for the last week or so of his life, we have no idea what the kid was doing during the time he was gone."

While the Office of Medical Investigations (OMI) has completed the majority of its investigation, the wait for toxicology reports continues for investigators in the Farmington FBI office.

"So far, no results have been called in to us, and the information we are receiving is so that we can file for an affidavit," said Elwell. "The results of the OMI still won't be final until we get that toxicology report."

Elwell added that when authorities found Talk's body, that there didn't appear to be any signs of trauma to the body such as a knife wounds or signs of firearm trauma.

"Obviously we will learn a lot more from the autopsy, but when the body was found, investigators didn't find any sign of trauma that would give us an early idea as to how he (Talk) died. But we are still looking at the case and considering it to be a suspicious death," said Elwell


Wadsworth death
Authorities haven't had problems identifying how Duane Wadsworth, 28, of Shiprock, died on Jan. 15. According to relatives of Wadsworth, he was stabbed to death by his sister Deanne Wadsworth in Shiprock.

Originally investigators stated that obtaining reliable information concerning the attack was made difficult by the fact that a number of people that witnessed the stabbing were inebriated and that it was hard for investigators to determine how much alcohol had been consumed by witnesses.

But family members responded by pointing to the abuse of methamphetamine that both Duane and Deanne Wadsworth were involved in that led to the attack. Authorities declined to comment on the possibility of whether the use of meth played a part in the stabbing death of Wadsworth.

"Right now we're waiting on some lab testing for this case," said Elwell. "There has been evidence submitted to the lab for additional testing and that's all we can say right now concerning it."

Anyone with information concerning Tate Talk's last week or his death or the stabbing death of Duane Wadsworth should contact (505) 334-TIPS.

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email at brianhassler@hotmail.com