FBI investigating homicide of Rocky Boy man

The FBI and tribal authorities are conducting a homicide investigation after the body of a 30-year old Box Elder man was found near a trash bin on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

"I can confirm that we are participating in an investigation. The body of Alton Boyd Alexander, also known as 'Mucktune' Alexander, has been recovered," Special Agent Bob Wright, a spokesman with the FBI's Salt Lake City office, said today.

"We are working with Indian authorities there on a homicide investigation. The cause of death is unknown. The body is undergoing an autopsy. There are some suspects that are being looked at, but there are no arrests at this time."

Alexander's body was found Friday night near the trash bins in Wild Rose Village on the reservation, Tribal Chairman Alvin Windy Boy Sr. said Saturday.

The area is about a quarter mile from Alexander's home, said his mother, Ila Denny of Box Elder. Alexander's body was sent to the state crime lab in Missoula, she said this morning.

Denny said she has not been told by the FBI how her son was killed, but she believes that he was beaten to death.

Denny said she has heard that her son was killed by a group of five or six people in their teens.

"He was home asleep when they came and got him," she said, adding that she does not know the motive for the killing.

Investigators have identified several of the youths believed to be involved, Denny said, including one the FBI told her had blood stains on his clothing. The FBI has also seized a passenger car from the residence of one of the teens for evidence, Denny said.

Denny was notified of her son's death about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, she said.

"We had to identity his clothing," she said.

"We don't even know why this happened," Denny said. "He was friends with everybody. I don't know why they would have to do that to my son. He had a lot, a lot of friends. He was always friendly with everybody."

Alexander liked tinkering with electronics, and enjoyed helping Denny around her yard, she said.

"He liked to spend time with his nieces and nephews and he liked to play cards," she said. "He was into the sundance ceremonies and sweats. He was into all kinds of stuff. He was a jack of all trades, a master of none."

Alexander's Indian name was Mi-s-ti-k, which means "tree," Denny said. The name was given to Alexander by his great-grandfather, she added.

He is survived by his wife, Lori Stiffarm; two daughters, Devon Alexander and Sherae LaMere of Box Elder; and a son, Delayne Alexander of Fort Belknap.

Alton Alexander's cousin, Michael Alexander, said this morning that he was shocked by the news that his cousin had been killed.

"He was a good person with a kind heart, just a really friendly guy," he said.

Tribal criminal investigator Myron Oats Jr. declined to comment this morning.

Havre Daily News reporter Kystal Spring contributed to this report.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.