Found Deceased MT - Selina (Selena) Not Afraid, 16, I-90 rest area between Billings & Hardin, 1 Jan 2020

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2020
Missing teen's body found in Big Horn County
The body of missing teen Selena Not Afraid was found Monday morning near the rest area where she was reported last seen, according to Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair.

Big Hair said federal law enforcement agents found Not Afraid's body around 10:30 a.m. within a mile of the rest stop where she was last reported seen.

Rest peacefully, Selena.

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Missing teen's body found in Big Horn County

 

[PommyMommy]

Big Horn County News is reporting that it has been confirmed that it is Selena.

Adding link:

Body found near rest area confirmed to be Not Afraid's
Officials reported the body was found at 10:36 a.m.

An autopsy is pending, no foul play is suspected, officials said.

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2020
Sheriff: Body of Hardin teen Selena Not Afraid found in Big Horn County
The body of 16-year-old Selena Not Afraid was found Monday morning about three-quarters of a mile away from the I-90 rest stop where she was reported missing, according to Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair.

The cause of death is being investigated, Big Hair said.

[...]

Angela Marshall on Twitter
#UPDATE: Authorities have just confirmed to us that the body found is that of Selena Not Afraid. My condolences go out to Selena's family and friends tonight...
4:24 PM - 20 Jan 2020

Big Horn County Sheriff confirms body of Selena Not Afraid is found
Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair says a Department of the Interior team found her during a systematic grid search of an area southwest of the rest area along I-90 between Hardin and Billings.

Sheriff Big Hair says an autopsy will be conducted but foul play is not suspected at this time.

[...]

Body found near rest area confirmed to be Selena Not Afraid | West River Eagle
A Facebook post from Selena’s aunt, Cheryl Horn, says “We brought our baby girl home. Now she can Rest In Peace. Jackie and I want to thank everyone for helping us bring our girl home ”.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I can only imagine the anguish of Selena’s mother. I wanna reach out across cyberspace and tell her that we care.

 

[Seattle1]

Not the ending we wanted. I'm also sorry for all the searchers who must also be devastated that they did not locate Selena when she was so close. Comfort and peace to her family and friends.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

JAN 20, 2020
Sheriff: Body of Hardin teen Selena Not Afraid found in Big Horn County
The body of 16-year-old Selena Not Afraid was found Monday morning about three-quarters of a mile away from the I-90 rest stop where she was reported missing, according to Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair.

The cause of death is being investigated, Big Hair said.

[...]

Angela Marshall on Twitter
#UPDATE: Authorities have just confirmed to us that the body found is that of Selena Not Afraid. My condolences go out to Selena's family and friends tonight...
4:24 PM - 20 Jan 2020

Big Horn County Sheriff confirms body of Selena Not Afraid is found
Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair says a Department of the Interior team found her during a systematic grid search of an area southwest of the rest area along I-90 between Hardin and Billings.

Sheriff Big Hair says an autopsy will be conducted but foul play is not suspected at this time.

[...]

Body found near rest area confirmed to be Selena Not Afraid | West River Eagle
A Facebook post from Selena’s aunt, Cheryl Horn, says “We brought our baby girl home. Now she can Rest In Peace. Jackie and I want to thank everyone for helping us bring our girl home ”.

If foul play is not suspected, what other means of death can explain this statement? Succumbed to elements of weather? Suicide? Natural causes?

 

[PommyMommy]

If foul play is not suspected, what other means of death can explain this statement? Succumbed to elements of weather? Suicide? Natural causes?

Too early to know. Key words "at this time." MOO

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 20, 2020
Missing teen's body found in Big Horn County
[...]

Foul play is not suspected at this time, Big Horn said, in a press release.

"Please keep Jackie, Leroy and their extended family members in your thoughts and give them the time and space to grieve and come to grips with this terrible loss," Big Hair wrote.

Selena's mother is Jackie Big Hair, and her father is Leroy Not Afraid.

[...]

Big Hair said it was a Department of Interior search team that found Selena's body during a "systematic grid search" of an area southwest of the rest area.

Big Hair thanked all the agencies and volunteers involved in the search, as well as those who donated food and water for the searchers and their family.

[...]

Big Hair said an autopsy had not yet been scheduled, but that one would likely take place Tuesday or Wednesday.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Dbm. I’m sorry everyone.

 

[iamnotagolem]

This is pretty local to me, so I see it in my FB feed all the time. Seeing that foul play is not suspected makes me almost sadder knowing she likely froze to death.

 

[NoSI]

Big Horn County News is reporting that it has been confirmed that it is Selena.

I have no words... I had hope that she would be found alive.

Fly high Selina! Wish we could turn back time...

 

[catch_22]

There has to be more to this story. Why would she wander off like she supposedly did? And she only made it 3/4 of a mile? I'm very surprised that none of the searches had already found her in presumably relatively flat, open, barren land. I guess it just goes to show how difficult it is to cover large areas of land with a ground search.

 

[TTF14]

Sorry, I haven't followed this case closely....how did the women left behind at the rest area get home?

Is there any confirmation there actually was van trouble?

Did Selena run into the woods to escape these people or whomever they were meeting up with?

 

[Beekarina]

Perhaps she wandered in a circle? i.e. went out some place, and tried to find her way back? The 3/4 of a mile may not have been a linear route?

very sad ending.

 

[rkendmar]

If foul play is not suspected, what other means of death can explain this statement? Succumbed to elements of weather? Suicide? Natural causes?

The body did not have knife or gunshot wounds, ligature marks, extensive bruising, etc. which would indicate a homicide (foul play).
Possibly an accidental death due to hypothermia (?), alcohol poisoning (?), heart failure secondary to methamphetamine ingestion (?). Possibly she had been drinking, passed out and died of exposure (?).
We'll just have to wait for the autopsy and investigation.
MOO

 

[NoSI]

If foul play is not suspected, what other means of death can explain this statement? Succumbed to elements of weather? Suicide? Natural causes?

Yes, i think exposure is definitely a possibility...it wouldn't take long in freezing weather... Hypothermia kicks in at 95 Fahrenheit body temp. At 82 Fahrenheit we lose consciousness and at 70 Fahrenheit we die.

 

[Seattle1]

If foul play is not suspected, what other means of death can explain this statement? Succumbed to elements of weather? Suicide? Natural causes?

Most likely hypothermia.

If Selena was located along I-90 between Hardin and Billings as reported - I think she probably started walking and didn't wait for the ride that came later for her and the girl located in the ditch. Maybe she was trying to get away from the other girl that she was left with. I'm really sorry they ever let her out of the van. MOO

Big Horn County Sheriff confirms body of Selena Not Afraid is found

 

[TexLil]

"No foul play suspected" and yet it appears a 16 year old was served alcohol to the point of being drink and left at a rest stop in inadequate clothing in very cold weather and in a very vulnerable state (drunk). She might not have been shot or strangled but she still died at the hands of adults around her who could have prevented this death. MOO.

We all need to take care of each other. I'm so sorry no one was there for you when you needed them most Selena. MOO

 

[Dave F.]

There has to be more to this story. Why would she wander off like she supposedly did? And she only made it 3/4 of a mile? I'm very surprised that none of the searches had already found her in presumably relatively flat, open, barren land. I guess it just goes to show how difficult it is to cover large areas of land with a ground search.

The land is not barren at all, and is not flat. It is covered in thick, knee-to-shin high bent grass and prairie sage over rolling terrain. A searcher could ride or walk within 6 feet of a prone body and never see it. It is fortunate that the FBI has the intensive experience which was required. IMO