TUBA CITY – A 20-year-old Tuba City man has been charged with murder after a naked, decomposing body was found near the Tuba City High School football field bleachers.
Richard Kingston Shepherd was charged with the murder of a female victim, whose name, age, and hometown were not disclosed in federal court documents. Authorities believe the victim was murdered on July 14 and her body went undiscovered for six days.  

Shepherd was arraigned on a second-degree murder in U.S. District Court on Aug. 1 in Phoenix. He told authorities he and the victim met up in early July and she became angry when he changed his mind about having sex.

Court documents filed on July 24 show that the victim’s aunt told authorities she saw her niece with Shepherd that Saturday evening. Shepherd said he and the victim went for a walk that evening and ended up near TCHS – which will be back in session for the new school year on Aug. 10 – where they decided to have sex on the bleachers. After undressing, however, Shepherd changed his mind because he has a girlfriend.

The victim became upset and slapped him, according to Shepherd’s interview with the FBI. Shepherd says he pushed her and she fell, causing her to hit her head on a sharp pole on the bleachers. He also said he kicked her as she crawled away and left her bloodied body at the bottom of a stairway.

Authorities pinpointed Shepherd as his electronic benefit transfer card was found near the victim’s body.