Man Killed In Carnegie Identified, Killer Still At Large

The man killed Wednesday morning in Carnegie has been identified by the medical examiner's office.

Byron Scott Tongkeamah Jr., 32, was killed Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. His body was found in the back of a vacant home.

A look inside the home gives you a look inside Tongkeamah’s life. Empty booze bottles everywhere. A filthy mattress on the floor. Holes in the walls and ceiling.

Neighbors say Tongkeamah and a woman had been squatting in the home for some time now. That woman was stabbed multiple times, but the feds day she will live. They’re not releasing her name.

The FBI said Tongkeamah suffered multiple stab wounds. Initial reports from law officers indicated he had been beheaded.

The FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are investigating the crime because the crime happened on Indian trust land. 

Neighbors say the couple regularly held drunken parties that often ended in violence.  

“They’re fist fighting. Language. I’ve never seen any kind of weapons but there are usually you know, fighting with their hands kicking wrestling it looks like,” said neighbor Christy Gutierrez.

Tongkeamah has a long criminal history that includes arrests for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, and he was a suspect in a homicide last year but never charged. 

Most neighbors News 9 spoke with were afraid to go on camera but say they gave Tongkeamah food and money because they were afraid of him.

“So I always worry all about the kids going outside to play. Why is that dangerous? Very concerning,” said Gutierrez. “I grew up in this house. It’s my mom and dads. And we had the swing set outside but I don’t let them play outside anymore just because our neighbors are not very friendly.”

Neighbors say they’ve called Carnegie Police, but police wouldn’t do anything because the vacant home is on Tribal land.

Police refused to comment.

Neighbors say they’re not surprised by the murder.

“Not really,” Gutierrez said. “I mean it was going to happen sooner or later. I just didn’t think it would be that guy I didn’t think he would be the one hurt. I thought he would be the one the other way around.”

No arrests have been made at this time. The FBI is still looking for the killer.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 405-290-7770.