Selena is a junior at Hardin High. Posters made by some of the high school students were hung on the chain link fence near the rest stop, many expressing ‘Hope 4 Sal.’ Another read ‘Her life matters.’
The "#hope4sal" hashtag has been circulating amid concerted social media efforts to find Selena and spread news of her disappearance to other states.
"It felt so good," said Selena's aunt, Cheryl Horn, of the Hardin students. "We needed those kids and their vibes. We need them to see this too."
Horn and other family members have been at the rest stop night and day since Selena was reported missing. There, kids heard about the severity of running away, and officials stressed they should be diligent and safety-oriented, Horn said. Horn said Selena wasn't a partier, leading her to believe someone took advantage of the teen.
Police are also continuing to investigate the Billings house where Selena apparently attended a New Year’s Eve party the night before her disappearance.
The sheriff was optimistic the arrival of the federal Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team would lead to new discoveries.
FBI spokesperson Sandra Barker confirmed the FBI was sending additional resources, but couldn’t comment more specifically, she said. The FBI has been assisting from the beginning of the search, she said.
As searchers continued to comb the area near the rest stop, flyers and Facebook and social media posts have spread quickly, much of it pushed by Selena’s family.
“It’s up to the family, and it’s not to pass out one flyer; it’s to pass out 100,” said Horn, Selena's aunt.
“I’ve scrolled past many faces, when Selena went missing I thought, ‘I can’t let them forget her face,’” she said, adding that missing person posters coming across her Facebook feed have become all too common.
“Whoever it is, we’re putting the pressure on, and they need to let her go,” Horn said. The response from Montana and out of state has been “outrageous,” Horn said.
People have reached out from all across Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas — and farther — to express support, offer a prayers or share a poster of Selena. Horn wanted to express thanks from Selena's family to everyone who has searched, volunteered, donated food and everything in between.
Horn said she thinks the family’s social media push, and the public pressure on law enforcement, has been one reason officials have rushed to search for the girl. A search was mounted the same day Selena went missing, and a Missing and Endangered Persons Advisory was issued for the girl Wednesday.
“I hate to say it but that’s how it has to be (to get law enforcement involved). The family has to be aggressive. We’re not going to be quiet,” she said.
Law enforcement has been criticized for not taking
Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women cases seriously enough in the past, leading to preventable deaths or no arrests and charges.
Native Americans go missing or are murdered at a higher rate than their non-Native counterparts.
Horn is optimistic that Selena will be found safe, especially with the response of law enforcement. Friends and family will not give up, she said.
"She knows we’re here. She knows I won’t quit and her mom won’t quit," Horn said. "She doesn’t know where we're at or what we’re doing. But, I’m being loud. We’re going to find her. I’m positive."
Search for Hardin girl enters 7th day; FBI sends in special 'child abduction' team
