NM NM - Melanie James, Adult, Farmington, 20 April 2014

[doodles1211]

Authorities in Farmington are hoping the public can help in the search for a woman who was last seen five years ago.

Police say that on Sunday, April 20, 2014, Melanie James was last seen by her sister walking around McKinley Elementary School with an African American male. According to police, James' sister did not recognize the man and by the time she turned her vehicle around, James was gone and has not been seen or heard from since.

While it was not uncommon for friends and family to not hear from James for days, authorities say in June when she had still not contacted anyone, James' mother reported her daughter as a missing person.

Over the years, the Farmington Police Department says they have exhausted leads and followed up on tips with no success. They are again reviewing the case in search of additional investigative avenues.

A prayer vigil for Melanie and all of missing and murdered indigenous people will be held Saturday, April 20, 2019, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Orchard Park in Farmington.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Melanie James is asked to contact Detective Heather Chavez at 505-566-2370 or non-emergency dispatch at 505-334.6622.

Anonymous tips can also be made through the Farmington Police Department Detective Tip Hotline at 505-599-1068.

Farmington police turn to public for help in missing person cold case

 

[Shin Masamura]

Mom and sister interview

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=278633469756475

 

[iulia]

Charley Project page Melanie Marie James – The Charley Project
NamUs page The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[CastlesBurning]

Details of disappearance updated - Melanie Marie James – The Charley Project

James was last seen in Farmington, New Mexico on April 20, 2014. Her sister saw her walking with an unidentified African-American man near McKinley Elementary School in the vicinity of 20th Street and Butler Avenue in Farmington, New Mexico on April 20, 2014. When her sister came back to the area to look for her, she couldn't find her.

James sometimes dropped out of sight for days at a time, but she's never been gone for this long. Her mother stated when she tried to file a missing persons report for her, the police told her they would not accept a report for at least 48 hours, and when she told them James had already been missing for more than that time, they told her they meant 48 hours after the reportee initially contacted law enforcement.

There was a sighting of James at a Family Dollar store in September 2015, but no sign of her since then. Her disappearance remains unsolved.

 

[Caring1]

1 Unidentified Person Exclusion:

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP82493
Date Body FoundJuly 19, 2021
StateNY
CountyKings

 

[Caring1]

Bump

No new exclusions

 

[Pennysmom1]

Feb 12, 2024

'We're waiting here': New update in Melanie James case

Over a year ago, we told you about a woman who went missing in Farmington. Since 2014, few answers in the search for Melanie James. Now police say, they're re-evaluating her case.

www.koat.com

Feb 1, 2024 archived article from The New Yorker- very good article

https://archive.ph/LgbFM

Dec 4, 2023

'All we need are answers': Families come to ABQ looking for info on missing loved ones

Native American families came to Albuquerque Sunday looking for information about their missing loved ones.

www.abqjournal.com

 

[Pennysmom1]

Melanie Marie James – The Charley Project

• 
  
  
  
  

James, circa 2014

• Missing Since 04/20/2014
• Missing From Farmington, New Mexico
• Classification Missing
• Sex Female
• Race Native American
• Date of Birth 07/05/1992 (31)
• Age 21 years old
• Height and Weight 5'0, 116 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description A blue bandana shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Native American female. Brown hair, brown eyes. James has a tattoo of a spade on her right index finger. Her ears are pierced.

Details of Disappearance​

James was last seen in Farmington, New Mexico on April 20, 2014. Her sister saw her walking with an unidentified African-American man near McKinley Elementary School in the vicinity of 20th Street and Butler Avenue in Farmington, New Mexico on April 20, 2014.
James said she planned to enroll in classes at San Juan College and fill out job applications, then return home by 5:00 p.m. She never came home, however. When her sister came back to the area to look for her, she couldn't find her. She had sometimes dropped out of sight for days at a time, but she's never been gone for this long.
James's mother stated when she tried to file a missing persons report for her, the police told her they would not accept a report for at least 48 hours. When she told them James had already been missing for more than that time, they told her they meant 48 hours after the reportee initially contacted law enforcement.
There was a sighting of James at a Family Dollar store in September 2015, but no sign of her since then. Police spoke to the person last known to have been with her, and this person admitted to having seen her on the night she went missing but said they had not seen her since then. Her disappearance remains unsolved.

Investigating Agency​

• Farmington Police Department 505-566-2370

Source Information​

• Navajo Nation Missing Persons
• New Mexico Department of Public Safety Missing Person Information
• The Navajo Times
• KRQE
• Navajo Nation Missing Persons Updates
• Source New Mexico
• KOAT

Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated December 16, 2022; picture added, details of disappearance updated.


Nov 22, 2022

The disappearance of Melanie Marie James

The Native American woman was last seen April 20, 2014 in Farmington. Eight years since her disappearance, family members are left with little answers and no justice.

www.koat.com

Feb 1, 2022

Hundreds gather in Shiprock to demand justice for their missing and murdered Indigenous relatives

New Mexico has the highest number of missing and murdered indigenous women and relatives in the country, with at least 37 cases reported in Albuquerque. That makes Bernalillo County the second worst in the nation according to the Urban Indian Health Institute.

www.kunm.org

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Dateline -- Missing in America

Why Family Believes Indigenous New Mexico Woman is Still Alive 10 Years After Disappearance | Oxygen Official Site

What happened to Melanie James? Learn more about the missing New Mexico woman case featured on Dateline: Missing in America podcast.

www.oxygen.com

July 30, 2024

*****
For Melanie’s mother, she says the new detectives on the case are giving loved ones “a lot more hope.”

“I know she’s still alive,” Mailman tearfully said of her daughter. “I loved her before she was born, and I loved her more after she was born. So, in my spirit, I know she’s alive. I just know she’s alive in my heart.”

As for Melanie’s sister, she believes Melanie was possibly hiding at the Family Dollar store believing her ex-boyfriend had been released from jail, and it’s possible she’s hiding still.

“I think she’s either being held hostage or she’s hiding,” Melissa told Dateline. “I know she knows how to survive out there. She’s really smart. She knows which way to take, how to survive without a phone, without I.D., without a lot of things. She knows how to take care of herself.”

Melanie’s case is now featured on the New Mexico Department of Justice’s website, which was created in March 2024 for missing Indigenous people. Today, she would be 32 years old.

*****