Brothers Guilty of Murdering Man for His $7k Casino Winnings

  • The brothers claimed that they accidentally shot the victim while robbing him
  • Both face life imprisonment after being found guilty of first-degree murder
  • Acquaintance of the victim told the brothers about the $7,000, accepted a plea bargain
photographer taking picture at a crime scene
A jury has found two brothers guilty of murdering 30-year-old Tye Burley for his $7,000 casino winnings on February 20, 2018. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Their mother told the police

Two brothers have been found guilty of robbing and murdering a man who had just won $7,000 at a Native American casino in Washington.

The jury found Jose Antonio “Chi-Chi” Nava, 32, and Jorge Nava “Speedy” Martinez Jr, 33, guilty of first-degree murder on Christmas Eve.

Martinez confessed to his mother, who then informed the police about what had happened

The court heard that Martinez confessed to his mother, who then informed the police about what had happened. Martinez and Nava were subsequently arrested in California after making off in a white SUV.

The victim was 30-year-old Tye Burley. He was killed outside the Village Motor Inn in Marysville, Washington, on February 20, 2018.

Victim attacked and shot

On the night of the murder, the two brothers threw the victim onto the ground before ‘accidentally’ shooting the victim in the head. 

Nava then took the victim’s wallet and fled the scene in a white SUV. Burley survived initially, but two days later he succumbed to his injuries in a local hospital. The two brothers were arrested while on the run in California

Plea deal for one defendant

Another key person involved was Jeremy Daily, a 34-year-old man who had known the victim for about two years before the murder took place.

The victim allegedly allowed Dailey to stay in the Village Motor Inn with him due to concerns over Dailey’s lack of proper living arrangements.

After arriving at the motel room, the victim allegedly boasted about the cash in his wallet. It contained $7,000 that he had won at a local casino. Dailey then told the two brothers about the cash Burley was holding.

While no casino was named as part of the case, the Quil Ceda Creek Casino is very close to the Village Motor Inn. 

Another person, Jared Evans, 28, was also involved in planning the robbery. He admitted that he was given $100 for his role and was handed a three-and-a-half year sentence.

A case of betrayal

Dailey ended up receiving a charge of second-degree murder after accepting a plea bargain. He will now serve almost 14 years in prison.

Judge Edirin Okoloko told the Washington Superior Court that this was a circumstance of betrayal. Okoloko referred to the victim offering Daily a place to stay. The judge said: “You may have not been the one to shoot the victim, but you are the one who put the events into play that ultimately led to his death.”

Brothers awaiting sentencing

The brothers will be sentenced on January 2, 2020. As per state law, anyone found guilty of first-degree murder in Washington faces life in prison. Even though Nava did not pull the trigger, he is still on the receiving end of a first-degree murder charge.

anyone found guilty of first-degree murder in Washington faces life in prison

Even though the initial intention may not have been to murder the victim, a first-degree murder charge in Washington covers “circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life, if he or she engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to any person, and thereby causes the death of a person.”

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