Following the tragic incident involving the dismemberment of 14-year-old Indigenous teen Emily Pike, a Native American tribe in southeastern Arizona is pushing for stricter monitoring of state-licensed group homes. Emily was found deceased after absconding from a group home in Mesa.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe made a call to action on Monday, urging Governor Katie Hobbs and other state authorities to implement tighter scrutiny and regulatory measures for group homes in the wake of Emily’s untimely passing.
Emily’s disappearance was initially noted in late January near her group home located at Mesa Drive and McKellips Road. Her remains were eventually located in a wooded area close to Globe, roughly 100 miles away from the site she was last seen, on February 14, as previously detailed by CrimeOnline.
Information regarding her death leaked to the public late last month via a memo from Gila County police and social media. The memo indicated that Emily’s head and torso were found in bags. Her arms and hands are reportedly still missing.
“This crime must not go unsolved. Emily was murdered in a cruel, depraved and heinous act and the perpetrator(s) must be held accountable,” tribe Chairman Terry Rambler stated Friday in a letter, according to NBC News.
On January 27, a group home manager told Mesa Police that Emily was missing after she reportedly sneaked out of her bedroom window. The manager indicated that this was not the first time Emily had run away.
Emily’s uncle, Allred Pike Jr., said he thought Emily may have been trying to return to the reservation where her mother lives, after the state placed her in the group home. A former roommate at the home said Emily snuck out to meet a boy she shared guitar lessons with.
The tribe said searchers found her remains about 100 miles from the group home and is now offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
“Our Council has offered a $75,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Emily’s murder,” Rambler stated in the letter that accompanied the resolution. “We have requested the public to supplement the reward to generate more interest and leads.”
According to Mesa police, around 30 children have been reported missing from the group home, managed by Sacred Journey Inc.
“What happened to these other children?” Rambler asked. “Are they all safe and accounted for? Why has this clear failure to protect these children been allowed to continue unabated for years?”
Court documents obtained by FOX 10 indicated that Emily ran away three times in 2023. She told police about her dissatisfaction with life at the group home and pleaded to not return.
“We respectfully request Governor Hobbs, given your background in social work, (to) take all steps necessary to implement reforms in group homes to ensure the safety of children is a top priority of your administration,” Rambler added.
So far, no arrests have been made in the case.To assist in the investigation, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and the San Carlos Apache Police Department have set up an online tip portal where anonymous tips can be submitted through tips411.
Information can also be reported to the Sheriff’s Office at 928-425-4449, option 1, or the San Carlos Apache Police Department at 928-475-1700.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via Mesa police]
