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

[formerlyme]

Ok, this brings me a few questions. how do these numbers compare to similar homes and if DCS did not place Emily there, who did? Also the headline is misleading, no discussion of investigation in this article. Sadly I do not feel that this new native amber alert would have made a difference..... sadly there was no Amber alert at all.

More than 80 calls for service to group home years before death of Arizona girl, reports show

The Gila County Sheriff's Office tells 12News they continue to turn up new leads but have yet to identify a suspect.

www.12news.com

 

[Mandala]

Ok, this brings me a few questions. how do these numbers compare to similar homes and if DCS did not place Emily there, who did? Also the headline is misleading, no discussion of investigation in this article. Sadly I do not feel that this new native amber alert would have made a difference..... sadly there was no Amber alert at all.

More than 80 calls for service to group home years before death of Arizona girl, reports show

The Gila County Sheriff's Office tells 12News they continue to turn up new leads but have yet to identify a suspect.

www.12news.com

Congregate care (referenced in the article) can often expose children to negative influences and lead to more problems.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[ttjo]

Ok, this brings me a few questions. How do these numbers compare to similar homes and if DCS did not place Emily there, who did? Also the headline is misleading, no discussion of investigation in this article. Sadly I do not feel that this new native amber alert would have made a difference..... sadly there was no Amber alert at all.

More than 80 calls for service to group home years before death of Arizona girl, reports show

The Gila County Sheriff's Office tells 12News they continue to turn up new leads but have yet to identify a suspect.

www.12news.com

Keep in mind that AWOL's stats can depend on the home's policy and procedures. if a kid wants to leave and their policy says staff are not allowed to hold them , they leave, and all staff can do is call them in AWOL.
As far as the 80 calls go, that can also be affected by staffing, situations cn escalate, staff may not feel like they can manage it, and may turn to police to manage behaviours.
Experienced Staffing can be an issue in these homes.
Not saying that this is what's going on in this group home but when the stats are this high, it is something to keep in mind until they investigate and provide more information.
I feel for the staff in some of these homes; often, their hands are tied by regulations which can put kids at risk. ( leaving)
Sadly, predators know where the prey is.

 

[ttjo]

Keep in mind that AWOL's stats can depend on the home's policy and procedures. if a kid wants to leave and their policy says staff are not allowed to hold them , they leave, and all staff can do is call them in AWOL.
As far as the 80 calls go, that can also be affected by staffing, situations cn escalate, staff may not feel like they can manage it, and may turn to police to manage behaviours.
Experienced Staffing can be an issue in these homes.
Not saying that this is what's going on in this group home but when the stats are this high, it is something to keep in mind until they investigate and provide more information.
I feel for the staff in some of these homes; often, their hands are tied by regulations which can put kids at risk. ( leaving)
Sadly, predators know where the prey is.

I should clarify. When I say staff are not allowed to hold them I mean by restraining them. Most homes have either a no-restraint policy or stringent rules around it.

 

[formerlyme]

I do not personally think the two cases are related, however I do think this area is rural enough that it has been used as a place to kill or dump.

Authorities investigate another murder where Emily Pike’s remains were found

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in addition to the murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike, they are investigating another murder that happened in the same area four years prior.

www.azfamily.com

 

[ttjo]

I do not personally think the two cases are related, however I do think this area is rural enough that it has been used as a place to kill or dump.

Authorities investigate another murder where Emily Pike’s remains were found

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in addition to the murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike, they are investigating another murder that happened in the same area four years prior.

www.azfamily.com

Same, I'm not thinking they are related either, they seem very different. A man shot in his car vs a young girl, dismembered with body parts put in separate garbage bags. Location: I'm not sure what a "pull out" area is, is that like a rest area?

 

[formerlyme]

Same, I'm not thinking they are related either, they seem very different. A man shot in his car vs a young girl, dismembered with body parts put in separate garbage bags. Location: I'm not sure what a "pull out" area is, is that like a rest area?

My guess of the terminology is it is a brush filled area with some dirt from people using it to pull over or out of the road. Nothing official as a rest stop. Just a place people have stopped enough to leave a mark.

 

[formerlyme]

Same, I'm not thinking they are related either, they seem very different. A man shot in his car vs a young girl, dismembered with body parts put in separate garbage bags. Location: I'm not sure what a "pull out" area is, is that like a rest area?

Authorities investigating after man found dead in same area as Emily Pike THis video shows the area she was found .

 

[ttjo]

Authorities investigating after man found dead in same area as Emily Pike THis video shows the area she was found .

I might end up eating my words about them not being related, now seeing how close together both dump sites are, what are the odds?
It could just be a coincidence or an east access dump site, or it could be that there is a connection somewhere. Now I want to look up the other case.

 

[formerlyme]

I am sure location is what brought it up and if both are gang related they could be somewhat related someone involved in one took the other. it is possible..... I am not sure how many spots there are to pull off the road in the area, it could just be a convenient spot, not a lot of traffic at night?

 

[ttjo]

I am sure location is what brought it up and if both are gang related they could be somewhat related someone involved in one took the other. it is possible..... I am not sure how many spots there are to pull off the road in the area, it could just be a convenient spot, not a lot of traffic at night?

True, I don't know the area so could just be convenient and If they were both from the same general area that would seem likely.
Emily came from a long distance away though, that's what makes it odd, Maybe she was hitchhiking? Maybe even a couple of times,? The last time picked up by someone more local to the area, I'm pretty sure I read she was killed elsewhere, so who is going to drive a long distance with body parts inside of garbage bags?
Something to look into anyway.
Pretty brave of the people that found her to look in the garbage bags. I don't think I would.
Last summer, we came across a single-vehicle accident on the highway ( it was just getting cleaned up) and on my way back from our walk, there was a garbage bag on the road ( left behind at the scene), we walked up to it, I thought the wind was making it inflate and deflate, but then it became too regular, I moved it with my foot and there was an animal inside, barely breathing, probably a coyote,too injured to save so left there by the police for animal control. I didn't look inside the bag, and It bothered me for days so I can't imagine how these people felt after looking inside.

 

[formerlyme]

True, I don't know the area so could just be convenient and If they were both from the same general area that would seem likely.
Emily came from a long distance away though, that's what makes it odd, Maybe she was hitchhiking? Maybe even a couple of times,? The last time picked up by someone more local to the area, I'm pretty sure I read she was killed elsewhere, so who is going to drive a long distance with body parts inside of garbage bags?
Something to look into anyway.
Pretty brave of the people that found her to look in the garbage bags. I don't think I would.
Last summer, we came across a single-vehicle accident on the highway ( it was just getting cleaned up) and on my way back from our walk, there was a garbage bag on the road ( left behind at the scene), we walked up to it, I thought the wind was making it inflate and deflate, but then it became too regular, I moved it with my foot and there was an animal inside, barely breathing, probably a coyote,too injured to save so left there by the police for animal control. I didn't look inside the bag, and It bothered me for days so I can't imagine how these people felt after looking inside.

I am in AZ so let me see if I can help. Emily was in a group home in a city called Mesa it is an "east valley city" if you go further east you find yourself in an area Globe/Miami, old copper mining towns. If you were to continue on this road you would find yourself intersecting with the Reservation that was Home to Emily. So if she had been hitchhiking this would be a valid route, also if someone she knew from home was transporting her. I do not think this would be the closest location for a body drop if she was killed in the Mesa area. But it does make sense if this baby was trying to get home to family. I do believe she was killed elsewhere but not sure I would think she was killed in Mesa. I think time of death will answer some of these questions, how long after she disappeared was she murdered?

 

[formerlyme]

True, I don't know the area so could just be convenient and If they were both from the same general area that would seem likely.
Emily came from a long distance away though, that's what makes it odd, Maybe she was hitchhiking? Maybe even a couple of times,? The last time picked up by someone more local to the area, I'm pretty sure I read she was killed elsewhere, so who is going to drive a long distance with body parts inside of garbage bags?
Something to look into anyway.
Pretty brave of the people that found her to look in the garbage bags. I don't think I would.
Last summer, we came across a single-vehicle accident on the highway ( it was just getting cleaned up) and on my way back from our walk, there was a garbage bag on the road ( left behind at the scene), we walked up to it, I thought the wind was making it inflate and deflate, but then it became too regular, I moved it with my foot and there was an animal inside, barely breathing, probably a coyote,too injured to save so left there by the police for animal control. I didn't look inside the bag, and It bothered me for days so I can't imagine how these people felt after looking inside.

horrible for you to find that I can only imagine the sadness, helplessness and trauma.

 

[formerlyme]

Teen missing from Mesa group home for nearly a year is back home, group home CEO says

Mesa PD was notified of the missing teen in May of 2024. The group home's CEO tells 12News the teen has since reunited with her family.

www.12news.com

some changes really need to be made

 

[ttjo]

I think time of death will answer some of these questions, how long after she disappeared was she murdered?

Good question !!

 

[ttjo]

horrible for you to find that I can only imagine the sadness, helplessness and trauma.

Thank you,

Teen missing from Mesa group home for nearly a year is back home, group home CEO says

Mesa PD was notified of the missing teen in May of 2024. The group home's CEO tells 12News the teen has since reunited with her family.

www.12news.com

some changes really need to be made

No kidding, look at this statement.

and that's it? dont know who shes with or where she is, but she is safe?
Maybe she contacted someone, but that's just not good enough.
Sad, Ive worked with kids in care for most of my life and I have seen that mentality many times. She will age out at 18 and thats that? how pathetic.
That wouldnt fly in Canada I can tell you that for sure.

 

[Chimera]

Thank you,

No kidding, look at this statement.View attachment 572564
and that's it? dont know who shes with or where she is, but she is safe?
Maybe she contacted someone, but that's just not good enough.
Sad, Ive worked with kids in care for most of my life and I have seen that mentality many times. She will age out at 18 and thats that? how pathetic.
That wouldnt fly in Canada I can tell you that for sure.

Tells you a lot about the state of those 'homes'.
Ugh.
Imo.

 

[ttjo]

Tells you a lot about the state of those 'homes'.
Ugh.
Imo.

I've heard many staff refer to group homes as the stepping stone to gain experience to move on to bigger and better things ( social work) That can speak to the quality of care when people are there, just to gain what's needed to get their foot in the door somewhere else.

I'm in Alberta; it's a hot spot for many MMIW. This story is not lost on me.