Red Lake Man Charged with Murder

A 19-year-old Red Lake man was federally charged today in connection with the recent murder of another resident of the Red Lake Indian Reservation. In a criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court, Ryan Roy Cloud was charged with one count of murder in the second degree. The complaint alleges that with malice, Cloud killed a 27-year-old Red Lake man on February 1, 2010. Cloud was arrested earlier today and immediately made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge M.K. Klein in Bemidji. He remains in custody.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit filed in this case, Red Lake tribal police received a call at 9:20 p.m. on February 1 from the Indian Health Service Hospital. The police were told the victim of a stabbing had just arrived for care. That victim was pronounced dead at 9:42 p.m.

Shortly thereafter, police learned the victim had sustained his injuries at a Red Lake residence, so they immediately visited the scene. Outside the home, they spotted a pool of blood with a knife lying next to it. They also saw blood droplets leading from the blood pool to the entrance of the home. Inside the residence, the police found and arrested several individuals, including Cloud. Later police learned Cloud and the victim had been wrestling, and Cloud had stabbed the victim several times.

If convicted, Cloud faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. All sentences are determined by a federal district court judge.

The federal government has primary law enforcement jurisdiction over the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Thus, this case was investigated by the FBI in concert with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.