No bond for Zuni ax killing suspect

Floyd Yuselew

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

ZUNI PUEBLO — Floyd Yuselew, charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing a Zuni man with an ax, appeared before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Lorenzo Garcia for a preliminary hearing in Albuquerque Wednesday. Federal preliminary hearings are held to determine if enough probable cause exists for the case to move toward trial. Wednesday’s hearing doubled as a detention hearing, the results of which found Yuselew in the custody of U.S. Marshals until he is found guilty or not.

“The defendant is a flight risk and a danger to the community,” reads U.S. Attorney Gregory Fouratt’s motion to keep Yuselew in custody.

Garcia also ruled that enough probable cause exists for the case to move forward — most likely to grand jury — in coming months.

Zuni Police and FBI Agents say Yuselew, 49, repeatedly struck Tyler Quam about the head with the business end of an ax the evening of Jan. 25. Yuselew’s “self-proclaimed common-law wife,” Carlotta Calavaza, told police the bloody killing stemmed from jealousy, according to the criminal complaint.

Calavaza and Yuselew left Yuselew’s home at lot 15 on Lesarlley Road the same night as Quam’s death, his body still slumped in a chair in the bedroom. Calavaza’s mother contacted police March 25 after Yuselew contacted her and said that her daughter had killed Quam, and that his body was still inside his house. Zuni Police and FBI Agents recovered the body and began investigating the same night.

While Yuselew remains in federal custody, Zuni Police and FBI Agents continue to investigate the killing. The crux of that investigation is now centered around Yuselew’s activities during the two months between the killing and his arrest, according to Albuquerque-based FBI spokesman Todd Hulsey. He said Yuselew returned to the house several times after the incident, and may have contacted friends for help jettisoning Quam’s body.

Regarding Calavaza’s two-month silence, and the lack of criminal charges for that silence, Hulsey said FBI Agents believe Yuselew bullied her, threatening retribution if she came forward. Her reluctance may have stemmed from watching the grisly killing; and Hulsey said Yuselew has a history of domestic violence.

Anyone with information about the investigation may contact Zuni Police Department at (505) 782-7057, or Gallup’s FBI bureau at (505) 726-6002.

Reporter Phil Stake can be reached at philip.stake@gmail.com, or by calling (505) 863-6811 x223.