HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man was accused of stabbing Mike Tithin, whose body was found behind a Mangilao home last month.
On Wednesday, Isaac Gurtamag, 42, was charged in the Superior Court of Guam with murder as a first-degree felony with a special allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.
According to the magistrate’s complaint, Gurtamag’s charges stem from the death of Tithin, who was found behind a Mangilao residence by officers with the Guam Police Department who were responding to a report of an expired person on Dec. 23, 2023.
Upon arrival, police met with a woman who indicated she didn’t know who the individual was and saw him in the yard at about 7:30 a.m.
“Police noted that the deceased male had a deformity in the abdomen with ‘body fat’ sticking out of a wound, possibly a stab wound. Clothes were located nearby, which contained identification of the deceased person and his name was Mike Tithin. Police noted the body was cold, and rigor mortis had set in,” the complaint stated.
After discovering Tithin’s body, GPD launched an investigation, which continued until they met a witness who identified Gurtamag as the last person to be seen with Tithin. According to a press release issued Wednesday, Gurtamag was later located and interviewed about the incident, which led detectives to search Gurtamag’s residence and confiscate evidence.
According to the complaint, Gurtamag told police he was the last one with Tithin at a Mangilao residence when Tithin became angry at Gurtamag, who told Tithin to sleep it off. The next day when Gurtamag woke up, Tithin was gone.
A woman met with officers and informed them Gurtamag said he and Tithin were in an argument when “Tithin threatened to shoot” Gurtamag who allegedly in response “retrieved a knife to defend against Tithin’s threats,” the complaint stated.
The woman further stated she saw Gurtamag “carrying a long object, walking immediately after Tithin.”
“(The woman) also informed police that (the) defendant got into a vehicle and pursued Tithin. (The woman) indicated to police that (the) defendant did not know if he stabbed Tithin,” the complaint stated.
Officers later learned Tithin and Gurtamag were cousins, and Tithin had damaged Gurtamag’s car in the past.
Gurtamag was confined at the Department of Corrections after he was arrested. GPD closed its investigation.
Gurtamag faces life in prison if convicted of the murder charge and 25 years for the special allegation of using a knife, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
Record
Before Gurtamag’s arrest in connection to Tithin’s death, prison records show he was previously arrested and later charged in 2014 with misdemeanor family violence and assault.
According to the OAG’s criminal history background report, Gurtamag was also arrested in 2008 for open container and improper storage of alcohol charges.
Isaac Gurtamag
