AZ - Emily Pike, 14, found dismembered in rural Gila County, last seen in Mesa, 27 Feb 2025

[Marysmith]

What was done to this young girl is so disgusting and despicable. I hope they find the person(s) who did this horrendous crime, soon. So sad…

If they don't the world is in danger...

 

[heavenlyweasel]

what is MMIW?

Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women

 

[brazgal]

what is MMIW?

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

 

[Cryptic]

I'm from a small island in Canada so my perspective could be off, but it seems since feb women from 11-18 have gone missing a lot in that region (mesa, Apache Creek). Belen Naranjo, violet Quiroga, keyana Macbeth, serena cox, Viviana sanchez, serenity wahlgren. All missing from Mesa, all women of colour, all aged 11-18, all missing in the last 2 months. Almost like a serial killer or maybe a trafficking ring at work, but I could be short sighted.

Phoenix, Arizona attracts alot of "drift ins" due to its strong economy and relatively lower cost of living.

Included in "drift ins" is a criminal element and also a runaway element, some of who may have substance abuse problems. The runaway element and the criminal element can then start mixing together out of mutual interests (exploitation / need access to drugs).

 

[AZDesertGal]

Way too young to be desecrated in such a horrific way. I hope the entire country is aware of this, MMIW are drastically underreported. Everyone should be saying her name: EMILY PIKE. Rest in peace, sweet girl.

Too young? Nobody should be desecrated that way, regardless of age!

There is a thread on a local Facebook group about Emily's case. The poster sounds frustrated that Emily's case isn't getting more attention, even though it's been in the news, but with three POI's and how horrific it is, the police are most likely doing what they can. Globe is known as a high crime area, unfortunately.

 

[formerlyme]

this article makes me feel like the investigation is going backwards, now we have no persons of interest .....

Gila County Sheriff's Office provides update on Emily Pike murder investigation

Some of Emily Pike's remains were found in trash bags two weeks after she was last seen near the group home where she lived. No arrests have been made.

www.12news.com

 

[sydney_M]

what is MMIW?

Missing and murderd indigenous woman

 

[sydney_M]

Too young? Nobody should be desecrated that way, regardless of age!

There is a thread on a local Facebook group about Emily's case. The poster sounds frustrated that Emily's case isn't getting more attention, even though it's been in the news, but with three POI's and how horrific it is, the police are most likely doing what they can. Globe is known as a high crime area, unfortunately.

It’s not surprising her case is not getting that much attention tho … she is not white .

 

[formerlyme]

I think cases just aren't getting media attention at all these days regardless of the victims, read of a 16 year old dismembered in Florida. I don't know if there is just too much crime, or if there is just too much news. I think her case is getting attention just very upset that we went from 3 POI to an article saying NO POI.

 

[AZDesertGal]

It’s not surprising her case is not getting that much attention tho … she is not white .

The case has received a lot of media attention, but to the ones affected, it never seems to be enough. That's the reality of being affected by a crime. Please don't just jump to the conclusion that other people are biased. Assuming you know other people's motives can lead to going down a wrong path. Everyone is appalled at what happened to her--Apache, White, Hispanic, Black, and everyone else. It was a horrific crime. Decisions need to be made on facts, not emotions or assumptions, and I don't doubt that the police are doing all they can to gather facts and work with the facts they have available to them.

 

[sydney_M]

The case has received a lot of media attention, but to the ones affected, it never seems to be enough. That's the reality of being affected by a crime. Please don't just jump to the conclusion that other people are biased. Assuming you know other people's motives can lead to going down a wrong path. Everyone is appalled at what happened to her--Apache, White, Hispanic, Black, and everyone else. It was a horrific crime. Decisions need to be made on facts, not emotions or assumptions, and I don't doubt that the police are doing all they can to gather facts and work with the facts they have available to them.

I’m not saying police are not doing their job . It’s too early tell . But in this country there will always be a bias against people that are not white ( in media etc ) . That’s why mmiw is a thing .

 

[sydney_M]

this article makes me feel like the investigation is going backwards, now we have no persons of interest .....

Gila County Sheriff's Office provides update on Emily Pike murder investigation

Some of Emily Pike's remains were found in trash bags two weeks after she was last seen near the group home where she lived. No arrests have been made.

www.12news.com

Literally

 

[AZDesertGal]

I’m not saying police are not doing their job . It’s too early tell . But in this country there will always be a bias against people that are not white ( in media etc ) . That’s why mmiw is a thing

The great majority of tribal police are tribal members, usually of the same tribe as the crime victims. Have you ever lived on a reservation? I have. There are lots of places to hide, the police have more cases than people available to work them, and can not solve the cases without evidence or leads. Then they keep getting pulled away to do other things.

People get frustrated because they want the cases solved and they want them solved quickly. So do the police. But in order to do so, they need to know who did it, and have evidence that can be used to convict them. They can't arrest people if they don't know who to arrest. People vent their frustrations by complaining and carrying signs, but that really doesn't help solve crimes. It just makes them feel like they are doing something, so they feel better. What might help is more trained people available to work the cases. Untrained people could make a mess of things. The criminals can and do get rid of evidence, and the police can't use what they don't have.

<modsnip - personalizing>

 

[AZDesertGal]

Literally

Ruling people out as suspects is a step forward. They want to find the guilty person and not arrest innocent people.

 

[formerlyme]

The great majority of tribal police are tribal members, usually of the same tribe as the crime victims. Have you ever lived on a reservation? I have. There are lots of places to hide, the police have more cases than people available to work them, and can not solve the cases without evidence or leads. Then they keep getting pulled away to do other things.

People get frustrated because they want the cases solved and they want them solved quickly. So do the police. But in order to do so, they need to know who did it, and have evidence that can be used to convict them. They can't arrest people if they don't know who to arrest. People vent their frustrations by complaining and carrying signs, but that really doesn't help solve crimes. It just makes them feel like they are doing something, so they feel better. What might help is more trained people available to work the cases. Untrained people could make a mess of things. The criminals can and do get rid of evidence, and the police can't use what they don't have.

<modsnip - personalizing>

was she found on tribal land? it was my understanding that tribal police were not the lead agency on the case because it was not tribal land. I think if she was found on tribal land FBI would be the lead agency since it is federal land. curious though if crime scene is found to be tribal land how will that change the agency in charge? and the investigation?

 

[formerlyme]

I am not sure this would make a difference, there was no AMBER alert since she was listed as a runaway. Perhaps, situations like group homes etc. should convey a sense of vulnerability and automatically be an Amber alert suspected run away or not. And I think a history of running away also prevented an AMBER alert from being declared.
I don't know how we can keep faces in the media for being missing if they are suspected run aways... there are so many we just don't hear about it until something happens to these poor babies.

Emily Pike’s family wants Amber Alert system for missing Indigenous people

The family of the 14-year-old Native American girl who was killed and dismembered wants an Amber Alert system for missing Indigenous people.

www.azfamily.com

 

[formerlyme]

Dead teen disappeared from Arizona group home with history of missing persons reports

On Feb. 14, parts of Emily’s remains were found outside of Globe in a remote area off of Highway 60.

www.12news.com

reposting this article clearly states the group home in questions missing persons cases filed in a 3 year period.

 

[AZDesertGal]

was she found on tribal land? it was my understanding that tribal police were not the lead agency on the case because it was not tribal land. I think if she was found on tribal land FBI would be the lead agency since it is federal land. curious though if crime scene is found to be tribal land how will that change the agency in charge? and the investigation?

I saw a post on another web site asking for any information to be sent to the tribal police, and didn't double check. I do know from driving through parts of the east Valley (Phoenix area and surrounding cities) that some of it goes through tribal land (and I found that out by getting lost there, long story.). If they want information, they must be involved somehow?

 

[formerlyme]

I saw a post on another web site asking for any information to be sent to the tribal police, and didn't double check. I do know from driving through parts of the east Valley (Phoenix area and surrounding cities) that some of it goes through tribal land (and I found that out by getting lost there, long story.). If they want information, they must be involved somehow?

I think they were pulled in as a courtesy and I feel it is necessary, every bit helps and if it was someone she knows and if it was someone from the reservation, the tribal police will get the information quickest. I just know that the FBI is not the lead from the article above, if it was tribal land I do believe (correct me if wrong) the FBI would be lead along with Tribal police. I know in the valley tribal land is more intersected with non tribal land ie: laveen / mesa / chandler but I think in that area where she was found it is much further east. I personally feel though if it was someone known to her tribal police may be the best resource.

 

[formerlyme]

I think this is standard. On the plus side article states there is some surveillance video that may help the case.

DCS opens licensing inquiry into Mesa group home where murdered teen was living

Arizona Department of Child Safety officials say they have opened a licensing inquiry into the Mesa group home where Emily Pike was living when she was reported missing.

www.abc15.com