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

[Seattle1]

I'm not sure if any more info came out about why the two girls were left at the rest stop. Initially, it was reported that the van kept breaking down and another family member was called to collect the girls at the rest stop.

Was this because the driver expected a delay in getting back to Hardin (due to mechanical issues) and the girls need to arrive home sooner?

Were the girls getting out of the van every time they stopped to repair the van and driver afraid they'd walk off?

Were the girls creating a disturbance inside the van and everybody wanted them out?

I'm afraid the witnesses will never answer these questions.

MOO

God Speed Selena.

 

[PommyMommy]

Crow Tribe of Indians
Statement from Chairman Alvin Not Afraid Jr.

It is with great sorrow, that I address you all this evening.
Authorities have confirmed that they have found my niece, Selena Not Afraid earlier today, deceased, less than a mile from where she was last seen.
Please keep Selena’s family and friends in Prayer

My office as well as Secretary Old Crow and staff, have been in contact with her Mother, and Law Enforcement agencies since January 1st, just after she was reported missing to authorities. A Cooperative supportive effort from the Crow Tribe, Northern Cheyenne Tribal members, Private citizens, Federal, State, County and local law enforcement agencies, entities and organizations, acted in a unified effort to help locate Selena.

Assistance and support to our loved ones during this time will be of my Administrations utmost priority in the coming days. The Not Afraid Administration is currently reaching out to family and community support and grief professionals to help with the losses our Nation has suffered. We expect these professionals to assist Selena’s classmates at the Hardin 17H&1 school district, as well as various area schools Selena had previously attended. Please empower each other to share and help our selves heal.

Please let us all learn from such a senseless and tragic loss. No one knows when tragedy will strike. All we can do is keep Hope, that those who are able to help, will. If that is what we must rely on, than we must learn to further take care of each other, as well as ourselves. Loss of a loved one in such a tragic way has no prejudice. Why should we hold any prejudice against each other, when this is a reality we all may face.

The Crow Tribe of Indians would like to Thank Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Pete Big Hair, as well as the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, for all of their tireless efforts throughout the search to bring Selena home.
Assistant Secretary of Interior Tara Sweeney, BIA- OJS Director Charles Addington, USDOJ-MMIP Coordinator Ernie Weyand, and BIA Law Enforcement Agents for working with our Nation to help provide search effort resources and valuable personnel, and search equipment.

Please do not hesitate to report missing or possibly abducted persons to proper authorities.
###

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 21, 2020
Sheriff: Body of Hardin teen Selena Not Afraid found in Big Horn County
[...]

Although authorities recovered Not Afraid's purse, her cell phone was missing and not turned on during the initial searches. Officials believed at the time that someone might have picked up her phone and taken it somewhere else, Big Hair said.

Big Hair told CNN affiliate KTVQ Monday night that he had been very close to the location where Not Afraid's body was found during the search for the teen.

"Myself, I went walking there into the night. And I was within 200 yards of her body probably about a week ago," he told KTVQ. "I just took a wrong turn and didn't walk up to where she was at. But I was that close to her body that evening. It's just a big country out here to search."

[...]

 

[MichelleBlue]

RIP Selena. MOO I believe there is more to this story that is not being told.

 

[THEmittens]

i'm not sure i believe the story from the others in the car. i think they need to really investigate and corroborate each person's account of what happened. there is obviously more to this, the man caught on snapchat fighting and shouting at her. i cannot imagine the pain for her family, poor selena not afraid, she really did deserve better than this. i truly hope this will be a benchmark case that changes the whole climate for native american women.

 

[raysgirl1126]

So very sad! Fly high Selena! R.I.P

 

[catch_22]

I agree that there are a lot of strange things to this story. It very well may be just be a tragic accident, but....

Her "losing" her phone seems to be an odd coincidence.

Did she have an overnight bag still in the van? Were they planning on spending the night?

So these teenagers were partying with adults?

Is there evidence that she left Billings alive? Can the recorded time of the snapchat video be verified?

Was she wearing the same clothes as the night before?

The girl in the ditch with no shoes.....

Was her body found at all close to any drivable roads? If so, and although unlikely, her body could have been moved to this location recently.

 

[Seattle1]

JAN 21, 2020
Sheriff: Body of Hardin teen Selena Not Afraid found in Big Horn County
[...]

Although authorities recovered Not Afraid's purse, her cell phone was missing and not turned on during the initial searches. Officials believed at the time that someone might have picked up her phone and taken it somewhere else, Big Hair said.

Big Hair told CNN affiliate KTVQ Monday night that he had been very close to the location where Not Afraid's body was found during the search for the teen.

"Myself, I went walking there into the night. And I was within 200 yards of her body probably about a week ago," he told KTVQ. "I just took a wrong turn and didn't walk up to where she was at. But I was that close to her body that evening. It's just a big country out here to search."

[...]

I thought it was reported earlier that Selena's phone was located in Billings which explained why it was not turned on during the initial search... Do we know where her purse was located?

ETA: add post re. phone was in Billings.
MT - Selina (Selena) Not Afraid, 16, I-90 rest area between Billings & Hardin, 1 Jan 2020

 

[Seattle1]

Update 4:46 p.m.: Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair said foul play is not suspected in the death of the Selena Not Afraid.

Just learned in news video that Sheriff Big Hair was Selena's uncle...

 

[Syxanthi]

Update 4:46 p.m.: Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair said foul play is not suspected in the death of the Selena Not Afraid.

Just learned in news video that Sheriff Big Hair was Selena's uncle...

Had a feeling that was coming.

 

[catch_22]

Please disperse. Nothing to see here.....o O

 

[PommyMommy]

I thought it was reported earlier that Selena's phone was located in Billings which explained why it was not turned on during the initial search... Do we know where her purse was located?

ETA: add post re. phone was in Billings.
MT - Selina (Selena) Not Afraid, 16, I-90 rest area between Billings & Hardin, 1 Jan 2020

It was reported that LE was looking for her phone in Billings. I don't remember any report that it was found there.

JAN 7, updated JAN 8, 2020
FBI team called to help with search for missing Hardin girl
The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office has searched an area below the Rims, and law enforcement has returned to the site of the party at 904 Lewis Ave. in Billings to look for Not Afraid's phone or other items.​

Also, first time I've seen her purse mentioned. The article sources KTVQ, who interviewed Big Hair, but the purse isn't mentioned in the KTVQ article. It could be in video (and, of course, they've split those up). MOO

 

[Dave F.]

I seriously doubt any criminal charges apply here against the driver.

Reportedly, the driver contacted a family member to collect Selena and 2nd girl, and that driver arrived within 15 minutes to get the girls. The 2nd girl was found in the ditch, and Selena was nowhere to be found. It was also reported that Selena's own family quickly rallied to the rest stop to search for her.

This is a very sad tragedy. It may be possible for parents to file a civil complaint against the driver for wrongful death where the burden of proof is “preponderance of the evidence.” ( Plaintiff has to prove that, more likely than not, the defendant was negligent in his actions). However, it seems to me that the same witnesses present in the van would probably not be of much help here to either plaintiff or defendant.

MOO

The Montana "murder" statutes predate statehood, and allow charges to be filed in ANY death that another human being contributed to, or caused. It is up to the jury to decide the severity of the charge, and there is a mandatory sentencing hearing. The judge usually orders restitution, even in cases as mild as vehicular manslaughter through negligence, so it has the same effect as a civil suit, except without punitive damages. It's kind of a "one size fits all, double whammy".
I'm not a lawyer, so this is just my citizen observer's opinion. IANAL, IMO

 

[Hulklogan406]

MOO Selena must have been intoxicated to the point of passing out to only have made it three quarters of a mile and couldn’t respond when the search started mere hours after she was last seen. It is not normal for a 16 yr old to just drop dead after traveling less than a mile. I don’t know but it seems odd. It will be interesting to see what the autopsy reveals. Either way, RIP poor Selena.

 

[Dave F.]

It was reported that LE was looking for her phone in Billings. I don't remember any report that it was found there.

JAN 7, updated JAN 8, 2020
FBI team called to help with search for missing Hardin girl
The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office has searched an area below the Rims, and law enforcement has returned to the site of the party at 904 Lewis Ave. in Billings to look for Not Afraid's phone or other items.​

Also, first time I've seen her purse mentioned. The article sources KTVQ, who interviewed Big Hair, but the purse isn't mentioned in the KTVQ article. It could be in video (and, of course, they've split those up). MOO

There was a large Billings police presence at 904 Miles Ave at sunup on January 2, 2020. I live about a mile away, so I'm reporting neighborhood watch information which has since been removed. The search of the area of the Rims below Air Beach is standard procedure for BPD in a teen case, and Selena's older sister was killed walking away from Air Beach. It sits 200 feet above the city below, with a 60 foot sheer drop off to rock tailings below. There is a long history of people and objects taking the flight. IMO
Photo by Wikiwand, link provided:
Rimrocks | Wikiwand

 

[oviedo]

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

I’m so sorry to see this news - wishing those that left her behind are held to some accountability
JMO

 

[Dave F.]

In response to several questions about her purse.............I've seen no mention of a purse in any LE releases. The current trend among young women in this area seems to be to NOT carry a purse. The ultimate style is to carry one of those little round compact style makeup kits in a right rear jeans pocket, so that it wears a "Copenhagen ring" in the denim. ID goes in the other rear pocket, house key in a front pocket, or key ring in the jacket. I claim no particular expertise in women's fashion. IMO

 

[TTF14]

Anyone know how old the barefoot scratched-up girl in the ditch is?

 

[Syxanthi]

In response to several questions about her purse.............I've seen no mention of a purse in any LE releases. The current trend among young women in this area seems to be to NOT carry a purse. The ultimate style is to carry one of those little round compact style makeup kits in a right rear jeans pocket, so that it wears a "Copenhagen ring" in the denim. ID goes in the other rear pocket, house key in a front pocket, or key ring in the jacket. I claim no particular expertise in women's fashion. IMO

That there is some grade A knowledge.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Godspeed Salina, Prayers for comfort and peace for your family and friends. Hoping this will change a lot of actions in the future, and remind the young people to always look out for one another Always . Together you are strong MOO