The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada announced last week that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment July 23 that upgraded charges against a primary suspect and indicted a second person in connection with the February 2022 killing of Anna Scott.
The new indictment charges Delshay Astor with first-degree murder within Indian Country, elevating the initial charge of second-degree murder brought against him in May 2026. The filing also names a second defendant, Joel Christy, charging him with one count of accessory after the fact.
According to allegations in the superseding indictment, Astor murdered Anna Scott, and Christy assisted Astor and another individual to hinder and prevent the apprehension of Astor and the other individual. The indictment does not name the other individual.
“While these new charges reflect the expanding scope and strength of our ongoing investigation, our primary focus today remains exactly where it belongs, on Anna Marie Scott, her family, and everyone who loved her,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office, alongside our partners in law enforcement, will continue to work tirelessly as this case moves toward trial until justice is fully served.”
According to allegations in the superseding indictment, on or about Feb. 2, 2022, Delshay Astor, with premeditation and malice, shot Anna Scott on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. The superseding indictment also alleges that Christy, knowing that the offense had been committed, assisted Astor and another individual in order to prevent their apprehension, trial and punishment.
Scott, 23, who was a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, was shot and killed, and her body was put into her car and set on fire. Her body was found inside a burned vehicle on southbound Interstate 580 the following day. The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her death a homicide.
Despite many pleas for information by Scott’s family and friends, very little information about the case was provided by law enforcement over the next four years, until the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Astor’s indictment and arrest in May 2026.
“We hope the arrest of a second subject on charges of aiding and abetting brings some measure of relief to the family of Anna Scott after many years of awaiting justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas office. “The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, specifically the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Reno-Sparks Tribal Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, remain committed to combating violent crime in all its forms on tribal lands and throughout the state of Nevada.”
During his initial appearance and arraignment in U.S. District Court in Reno on July 27, Christy pleaded not guilty. Astor pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree murder on June 3, but an arraignment and plea on the superseding indictment was set for Aug. 3.
If convicted, Astor faces a statutory minimum penalty of life imprisonment. If convicted, Christy faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for Sept. 29, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service also assisted with operational support. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Brister is prosecuting the case.
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