Aunt accused in child's killing moved

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Federal authorities transported accused killer Evelyne James to a federal detention center in Albuquerque pending the outcome of court proceedings in the case.

James was charged in U.S. District Court with a single count of murder in connection with the beating death of 4-year-old Alberto Johnny James who goes by the nickname “Bobo.”

James told FBI agents she kicked and hit the child and knew he was dead when she stored his body in a portable ice chest. Alberto James was in the care of James and her husband at the time of his death at a Spencer Valley residence on Oct 4.

Donna Goodrich, the warden of the McKinley County Detention Center, said Evelyne James was housed at the facility from Oct. 12 to early Monday morning at about 4 a.m.

Goodrich said the local jail often keeps federal inmates on a temporary basis until they are picked up by federal officials.
FBI agents transported James from Gallup to the

Albuquerque federal detention facility where she will remain until her case is resolved in the U.S. District Court system.

While at the Gallup jail, James was housed in an isolated cell for her protection. Goodrich said it is common for inmates to make threats against high profile inmates, especially those who are accused of harming children.

“Normally, that would be the case,” Goodrich said.

Goodrich said former inmate, Cleo Juan, who was charged in connection with the death of her young foster child last year, was treated in a similar manner due to the high profile nature of her case.

Bill Elwell, a spokesman for the FBI, did not return a request for comment about upcoming court hearings in the case.