Federal Charge Filed Against Man In Connection To Missing Pauls Valley Teen

A man has been charged in federal court in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Faith Lindsey.

The Pauls Valley woman disappeared in 2019. The accused suspect, Tanner Washington, was originally charged in county court.

But the case ended up being thrown out due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt ruling.

Lindsey was last seen October 28, 2019. The following week her family reported her missing.

Then in late December, just shy of two months after Lindsey's disappearance, Del City police arrested Washington, her boyfriend at the time. He was arrested on a first-degree murder complaint in her death.

However, due to the Supreme Court McGirt ruling in August of 2020, Washington filed to have the case dropped because the alleged crime happened on Native American land.

The case ended up being dismissed in Pontotoc County. But a federal complaint for first-degree murder against Washington was filed in federal court earlier this month.

The new criminal complaint details that on or about October 27 of 2019 Washington willfully and maliciously shot Lindsey.

The probable cause affidavit also states Washington told an ex-girlfriend Lindsey was dead and he was the reason why.

Court documents stated that ex noticed blood on Washington's shoes, pants and phone.

Officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation were later given all clear, following search warrants, and found that same blood on Washington’s clothing as well as in the Camaro he was driving and in a truck he had just sold.

After a DNA swab of Lindsey's mom and dad, officials stated it was a biological match to the samples of the blood found.

To this day Lindsey's body has not been found. I spoke with her mom, this morning, she tells me their family is relieved this charge has been filed and they hope to have an answer, Faith home and justice soon.