Published on: February 7, 2026, at 12:28h.
Updated on: February 6, 2026, at 02:29h.
- A North Dakota man denies allegations of fatally stabbing a woman inside a tribal casino.
- No individuals were seen entering or leaving the hotel room per casino surveillance footage.
- The accused claims he found a deceased woman upon waking in his hotel room.
A man from North Dakota, facing charges of fatally stabbing a woman in a hotel room at a tribal casino, has entered a plea of not guilty.
In January, law enforcement from Rolette County answered a 911 call concerning a deceased individual at the Sky Dancer Casino & Resort in Belcourt, North Dakota. Rigoberto Mendez Morales, 58, stated that he woke to find a deceased woman in his hotel room. The victim has been identified as a Native woman associated with the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
During a virtual court session in North Dakota’s US District Court from the Ward County Jail, Mendez Morales, through an interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge within Indian territory.
US Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal has ordered that Mendez Morales remain in custody until his trial commences on April 14.
Affidavit Reveals Key Information
The criminal complaint specifies that at around 6:07 a.m. on January 10, 2026, the Rolette County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a person deceased at the Sky Dancer Casino & Resort. Upon arrival, police found Mendez Morales seated on the bed of the hotel room.
A female, identified solely by her initials BTM, was discovered on the floor. Authorities noted that Mendez Morales had blood stains on his clothing and face, and his right eye appeared swollen and bleeding. BTM was confirmed to have been fatally stabbed.
Surveillance footage from the hotel corridor showed Mendez Morales and BTM entering the room just after midnight; no other individuals were seen coming in or out until law enforcement’s arrival.
Upon apprehending Mendez Morales, officers discovered he possessed a multi-tool that appeared to have blood on it. The FBI later seized the tool as evidence under a search warrant, revealing blood and long black human hairs consistent with BTM, as detailed in the charging documents.
Mendez Morales reported consuming three alcoholic beverages while gambling and stated he had no memory of returning to his room or why his clothing and the multi-tool were stained with blood. He denied any physical contact with BTM when he discovered her on the floor and noted that he only awoke to see her motionless.
Potential Consequences
Prosecutors allege that Mendez Morales unlawfully took the life of BTM, an Indian, with malicious intent. This case falls under the Major Crimes Act rendering it a federal offense.
A conviction for second-degree murder in Indian territory could result in a life sentence.