Six Indicted on Charges Related to 2011 New Year's Day Robbery and Murder on the Red Lake Indian Reservation

MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed earlier today charges four men with murdering a couple on the Red Lake Indian Reservation on New Year’s Day 2011. The indictment, which was filed on August 16, 2012, charges Geshik-O-Binese Martin, age 29, currently incarcerated in the Beltrami County Jail; Edward McCabe Robinson, age 28, currently held in federal custody; David John Martin, age 45, of Columbia Heights; and George Allen Martin, age 24, of Red Lake, with two counts of murder in the First degree, two counts of murder in the Second degree, and one count of robbery. The indictment was unsealed following the defendants’ initial appearances in federal court today. In addition, Kevin John Needham, age 20, no known address; and Terin Rene Stately, age 25, of Red Lake, were charged with one count of robbery.

The indictment alleges that on January 1, 2011, Robinson and the three Martins killed Craig David Roy and Darla Ann Beaulieu while stealing money and illegal drugs from Roy’s reservation residence. The bodies of Beaulieu and Roy were found in the remains of the house, which was destroyed by fire on January 1. Autopsies determined that both were killed due to multiple stab wounds.

If convicted of murder, Robinson and the three Martins face potential maximum penalties of life in federal prison. They and Needham and Stately face a potential maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on the robbery charge. Because the federal criminal justice system does not have parole, convicted offenders spend virtually their entire prison sentences behind bars. Of course, actual sentences are determined by federal district court judges.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the State Fire Marshal. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.