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

[CuriousWhiskers]

Updated article:
Emily Pike: Before Murder, Slain Indigenous Girl Was Sexually Assaulted by Relative, Attempted Suicide

Pretty disgusting if the rapist was allowed to visit the mother's home after the assault.

 

[tlorik]

why were no charges filed - by someone, anyone - on behalf of this child???

 

[formerlyme]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2025/04/17/emily-pike-case-slain-native-girl-arizona/83108473007/?tbref=hp

Just read this , hoping it is not paywalled this poor child.... points that stood out to me ...

* lived with her brother, mother, grandmother, aunts and others. (a lot of folks in a mobile home
*Her mother had custody but was addicted to drugs and had trouble caring for Emily, relatives said.
* Some of Emily's relatives said they were convinced she was the one who called 911. They said she knew and identified her alleged attacker as a relative.
*Emily's uncle, Allred Pike Jr., said he had no reason to doubt the Game and Fish investigation: "Investigation-wise, I think everything was done right." The case, however, went nowhere. (assuming a lack of evidence limited recourse?)
*"Her biggest worry was for her mom," Morales said. "There was a lot of worry there." (she loved her mother and worried )
*Lahti said the task force looked at the person who was arrested in Emily's assault. He said investigators have not identified any suspects or persons of interest in Emily's death, but that they remained committed to solving the case. (so the assaulter is not a suspect? )

 

[formerlyme]

Updated article:
Emily Pike: Before Murder, Slain Indigenous Girl Was Sexually Assaulted by Relative, Attempted Suicide

Pretty disgusting if the rapist was allowed to visit the mother's home after the assault.

the reason Emily was taken away....

 

[ttjo]

 

[ttjo]

the reason Emily was taken away....

so basically she was removed from her home because they couldn't keep her safe.
So this little girl was S.A'd , named her abuser, no charges and no justice. Instead, she is removed from her home and sent to a group home full of strangers that likely offered no support or quality of care. Wow !!, talk about adding insult to injury.
Imagine the unfairness and injustice she must have felt.
The justice system set her up to fail, and everyone else failed her by keeping her at risk.
No wonder she ran away.

 

[ttjo]

so basically she was removed from her home because they couldn't keep her safe.

One more thing, about this mismanaged case right from the get go. i don't know any the details of the SA , or how long it went on or how bad it got, before she called 911 ( if that is a fact)
I know its not easy to report that but she did, and she gets punished essentially, by being taken away. Believing that the reason she was removed is b/c of safety, she wants to return home b/c she thinks she can take care of her mom.( according to that Law and crime clip)

Her behavior is described as a bit defiant. How many times did she have to run away for anyone to get a clue that this girl needs some help and support .
Placing her in group care should have been temporary; the mom could have been offered support also. ( rehab) with the idea of family reunification and in-home family support, with visits happening ( even supervised) in the meantime.
If returning home wasn't possible, they could have found her a more suitable placement. She was already 14, another couple of years she could qualify for supported independent living. ( if they have that in PHX)

So what message is being sent to these girls/women and what options are there, you don't report the abuse b/c nothing will happen and you will likely be removed from your home and family. (That's huge here)
Not saying every case is the same, but these girls are not getting the message that life will be any better if they report any problems.
This just perpetuates the abuse/ neglect/ parental substance misuse, whatever they may be going through.
This becomes normalized, and over time,and in some cases end up putting themselves at risk by living high-risk lifestyles. It's what they have come to know or it's survival. What other options are there for them?

It's intergenerational Trauma.

This is an EPIC fail.

 

[PrairieWind]

so basically she was removed from her home because they couldn't keep her safe.
So this little girl was S.A'd , named her abuser, no charges and no justice. Instead, she is removed from her home and sent to a group home full of strangers that likely offered no support or quality of care. Wow !!, talk about adding insult to injury.
Imagine the unfairness and injustice she must have felt.
The justice system set her up to fail, and everyone else failed her by keeping her at risk.
No wonder she ran away.

You raise good points. She saw a system that was doing nothing to help her and everything to protect those abusing her.

 

[ttjo]

You raise good points. She saw a system that was doing nothing to help her and everything to protect those abusing her.

Yes, and quick fixes for the victim without seeing the bigger picture. Intergenerational trauma is passed on.

 

[formerlyme]

Hoping movement is still behind the scenes, justice is needed. No new news.

 

[formerlyme]

Emily Pike’s family sues Mesa group home she ran away from

The family of a 14-year-old Emily Pike, who was found murdered in Globe, Arizona, is suing the Mesa group home she ran away from.

www.azfamily.com

 

[formerlyme]

This article to me sounds like they law firm contacted the family , namely the incarcerated father. Hoping this does not detract attention from the case, there are still no known suspects.

Father of Emily Pike exploring potential civil lawsuit against group home

ABC15 has learned Pike’s father is working with attorneys on a potential civil lawsuit against Sacred Journey Inc., the teen’s former group home in Mesa.

www.abc15.com

 

[mpnola]

Children usually prefer to go home, even when the abuse was awful. It's what they know. It doesn't mean it's the right place for them.

My big, huge soapbox is always to protect the children better!!!!!! We have to demand more from our justice system for the children. We cannot count on a parent to do it, as often they are either the abuser or enabling the abuser. If I can be fined double on the interstate in a construction zone, then crimes against children or elderly should get double time.

Just a quick aside to community homes (formerly called group homes). I worked in that system for 16 years. Certainly, all are not created equally. But some things that I want to clear up.
- we had staff meetings every month and a managers meeting every week. There was plenty of information passing and sharing. It was in our federal regulations, so I would be surprised if they do not have regular staff meetings.
- we definitely didn't drug anyone!!! Each individual had a care team. Psychiatrists or medical physicians prescribed medication. No one at the home had any authority to give anything that wasn't approved. We even had to get pre-approval and document a Tylenol being given.
- it is an impossible job. We deal with people who are often times difficult to handle. We follow treatment plans and behavior plans. You (should) have managers and upper management/ administration watching your every move. I know because I was that person that watched! I also did tons of training and hands on modeling of how to communicate effectively with our residents.

I get that not all will have that amount of dedication, but they are not all awful. I would say for anyone needing to place their loved one in the care of others, do plenty of visits, notice how staff treat other people who live there and most importantly, find out how active the management/ professionals are in the care.

I will be watching this case, as if she was my own. She was failed. She was abused multiple occasions. She no longer stands alone. She has a group of people standing with her for her justice and peace. I am so sorry, sweet girl. You deserved much better.

 

[Cartie]

The more information that comes out the worse it gets. This poor child was let down by everyone.
The lawsuit is an insult when her own family couldn't even protect her. Not saying the group home doesn't need to be looked at but nobody should get any financial gain from this.

 

[formerlyme]

US Attorney's Office: Emily Pike's sex assault case was never "submitted" for review

In July 2023, Emily Pike reported she was sexually assaulted while living on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in eastern Arizona, according to relatives and law enforcement sources.

www.abc15.com

I am not sure if the federal level is often involved in tribal law it is federal land. I do see it was federally investigated but as the article asks what caused it to drop and why were they not asked to review for charging? And to learn she reported assault twice .

 

[formerlyme]

The more information that comes out the worse it gets. This poor child was let down by everyone.
The lawsuit is an insult when her own family couldn't even protect her. Not saying the group home doesn't need to be looked at but nobody should get any financial gain from this.

I agree on the financial gain but I do feel that the way the article presented the law firm instigated the communication, not the family. Not that that means much but it is keeping the case going and an investigation happening.

 

[PrairieWind]

US Attorney's Office: Emily Pike's sex assault case was never "submitted" for review

In July 2023, Emily Pike reported she was sexually assaulted while living on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in eastern Arizona, according to relatives and law enforcement sources.

www.abc15.com

I am not sure if the federal level is often involved in tribal law it is federal land. I do see it was federally investigated but as the article asks what caused it to drop and why were they not asked to review for charging? And to learn she reported assault twice .

I don't know what to say, what I should say or shouldn't. The tribes have the authority.

 

[neondreams]

Emily survived being assaulted in 2023, only to wind up dead and dismembered a year and some months later. How sad. I hope her killer is found soon so no one else can fall prey to them. Ugh. Only 14. She deserved to have many decades left. RIP Emily Pike.

 

[iusedtofloat]

Dad's family keeping it in the news. Her aunts seem very sincere . Very suprised if the aunts were qualified to care for her and provide a good home that she was not with them, but maybe Mom had some say , there does seem to be some animosity. Hopefully that does not muck up the investigation and everyone is on the same page trying to find Emily's murderer.

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/family-emily-pike-says-murdered-14-year-old-was-sexual-assault-victim-before-murder-occurred

i really hope they're looking into the relative that assaulted her.

 

[iusedtofloat]

A relative told ABC15 this was the second time that Emily had been a victim in a sexual assault case. The BIA spokesperson confirmed Wednesday, "A separate incident involving the same juvenile was investigated by the FBI." ABC15 is still trying to get additional details about the time, location, and suspect from that case.

omg. her life was hell...