Woman shot on Ute reservation

A domestic fight on the Ute reservation in San Juan County turned deadly when a woman fighting with a man over her children dared the man to shoot her, which he did, tribal police said.

Nathan Dutchie, 37, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on one count of second-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 12 incident.

According to the indictment, Dutchie called 911 and said he had shot and killed Jennifer Cantsee. Tribal agents arrived at the home to find Cantsee dead and face down in a pool of blood in a carport. Initially Dutchie told officers she had killed herself, but during questioning a day later he admitted he had shot her.

Officers reported finding a stainless steel five-shot Smith & Wesson revolver that had been stashed behind a couch in the house's living room. Officers also collected ammunition in Dutchie's bedroom, along with four other firearms, documents say.

During questioning, Dutchie said he and Cantsee were arguing about her kids when he confronted her in the carport with the revolver. When she dared him to shoot her, Dutchie said he pulled the trigger, but claimed that he didn't know the gun was loaded. Investigators said evidence showed that the revolver's trigger had been pulled twice.

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