Nebraska United States Attorney, Joe Kelly, announced the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging 47-year-old Joseph Lloyd James, of Norfolk, Nebraska, with arson in connection with the burning of a car found on the Santee Sioux Indian reservation.
James’ arrest occurred on November 19, 2018 and was made during the investigation into the death of Phyllis Hunhoff of Yankton.
In a release from the US Attorneys office, it is alleged James set fire to Hunhoff’s car. The maximum punishment for the offense is 25 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
James is scheduled for his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge ¬Susan M. Bazis today. (Wednesday) The US Attorney’s Office is unable to provide additional comment at this time because it is an ongoing investigation
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (Nebraska), the Santee Sioux Nation Police Department, the Lincoln Police Department (Nebraska), the Nebraska State Fire Marshal, the Norfolk Police Department (Nebraska), the Niobrara Police Department (Nebraska), and the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office (South Dakota).
These are the first charges filed in connection to the death of Hunhoff. Her body was found in that car on November 7th. She was last seen leaving her mothers home near Utica on the evening of November 4th.