Advocates Demand Alert System for Missing Indigenous as Emily Pike’s Killer Remains Unfound

HB 2281 is poised to establish a missing indigenous person alert system to facilitate timely responses to reports of missing indigenous individuals.

PHOENIX — A rally outside the Arizona State Capitol on Monday drew over a hundred protesters demanding legislative changes to tackle the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people.

This demonstration coincides with ongoing investigations into the murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike, a cherished member of the San Carlos Apache tribe. Pike’s tragic death has amplified calls for action within the community.

A report from 2016 revealed alarming statistics: out of 5,700 cases of missing Native women and girls, a mere 116 were entered into the national missing persons database. The report identified murder as the third leading cause of death among Native women, highlighting a critical public safety issue.

The discovery of Pike’s remains, which were found dismembered in trash bags near Globe, has further ignited outrage. “How they found our child is very disheartening,” remarked Arizona State Sen. Theresa Hatathlie (D), who chairs the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force and remains closely tied to Pike’s case.

Pike was last seen after leaving her group home in Mesa. The investigation into her death involves multiple agencies, including the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As of now, no arrests have been made.

Sen. Hatathlie expressed frustration over the handling of missing persons cases, particularly concerning Pike’s situation. “When she went missing, they didn’t even tell the family,” she noted, emphasizing the lack of attention given when individuals categorized as runaways go missing.

Hatathlie raised serious concerns about the group home Pike attended, citing that Mesa Police reported 30 missing persons cases from that facility in the past three years. She questioned, “When they decide to run away, what are they running from?”

Support for HB 2281 is strong among advocates. The bill, which has already passed the House, would establish an alert system akin to the Amber Alert for missing indigenous people. It is slated for discussion in the Senate Public Safety Committee on Wednesday.