Red Lake Man Indicted for Murder

March 5, 2010 - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 19-year-old Red Lake man for allegedly murdering another resident of the Red Lake Indian Reservation last month. In the indictment, which was filed with the U.S. District Court earlier today, Ryan Roy Cloud was charged with murder in the second degree. The indictment alleges that with malice, Cloud killed a 27-year-old Red Lake man on February 1, 2010. Cloud remains in custody.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit filed in this case, Red Lake tribal police received a call at 9:20 p.m. on February 1 from the Indian Health Service Hospital. The police were told the victim of a stabbing had just arrived for care. That victim was pronounced dead at 9:42 p.m.

Shortly thereafter, police learned the victim had sustained his injuries at a Red Lake residence, so they immediately visited the scene. Outside the home, they spotted a pool of blood with a knife lying next to it. They also saw blood droplets leading from the blood pool to the entrance of the home. Inside the residence, the police found and arrested several individuals, including Cloud. Police later learned that Cloud and the victim had been wrestling, and Cloud had stabbed the victim several times.

If convicted, Cloud faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

The federal government has primary law enforcement jurisdiction over the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Thus, this case was investigated by the FBI in concert with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.