Arizona police said they have gotten leads in the case of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was discovered last month.
According to Gila County police Lt. James Lahti, hikers on a trail near Globe found bags containing Emily Pike’s body off U.S. Highway 60. Lahti mentioned that no suspects have been identified yet, but there are some leads being followed.
Lahti stated, “Our detectives are working closely with the Mesa Police Department as that was Pike’s last known location. They are also collaborating with the FBI, BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs), and other state agencies in the investigation.”
READ: 14-year-Old Girl’s Dismembered Body Found in Bags Weeks After Her Disappearance
Emily Pike went missing from Mesa on January 27 while she was in a group home. A former roommate revealed that Pike had a history of running away and suggested that she disappeared in January to be with a boy she had met during guitar lessons.
Information regarding Pike’s death was leaked to the public late last month via a memo from Gila County police and social media. The memo indicated that Pike’s head and torso were found in bags. Her arms and hands are reportedly still missing.
An autopsy indicated that Pike suffered facial and head trauma.
Pike is part of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Lathi told KNXV that tribal police is also involved in the ongoing homicide investigation.
Reports indicated that there have been 30 missing person cases at Pike’s group home in the past three years. The group home, which was not publicly identified, houses children between the ages of 7 and 17. The home accepts referrals from the Department of Child Safety and Tribal Social Services.
According to KNXV, Pike was reported missing three times in 2023. On one instance, she was found with another child.
No arrests have been made.
[Feature Photo: Mesa police]