Arizona lawmakers discuss Indigenous child safety issues after tragic case of Emily Pike
Lawmakers seek ways to find missing Indigenous kids
The case of Emily Pike has sparked a larger discussion in the Arizona State Legislature to find solutions to help missing Indigenous children. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas has the story.
PHOENIX - Arizona lawmakers met today at the State Capitol to figure out how to improve group home regulations when it comes to missing Indigenous kids.
The conversation was centered around 14-year-old Emily Pike.
She disappeared from a Mesa group home and was found dismembered earlier this year.
Why you should care:
This was the start of a conversation to find out how exactly we got to this situation.
It lasted over two hours.
What they're saying:
"We all failed her; the system, family, tribe, all jurisdictions, federal, state, tribal," said Emily's uncle, Allred Pike Jr.
The San Carlos Apache tribe continues to mourn her tragic death.
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What we know:
Emily Pike was listed as a runaway from a group home in Mesa.
Leaders of the tribe say they were never notified and a missing persons alert never went out.
Her body was found dismembered near Globe in February.
"She was discarded like she didn't matter. Trash bags, dismembered, tossed on the side of the road like she didn't matter. My message is she does matter. And the person that did it, I pray that the time is coming for him, that they go catch him," said Pike Jr.
Apache Tribe pushes alert system for Indigenous persons
Tribal leaders recommend a Turquoise Alert System to state lawmakers that would enhance communication to the public when Indigenous children go missing.
The other side:
On Wednesday, lawmakers heard from Emily's uncle, tribal representatives and law enforcement, who all agree more should be done.
"I want to learn and adopt best practices so that communications flow from this between group homes and the tribes and I will do everything in my power to do what's right by her and no one should lose a child," said Sen. Wendy Rogers.
The committee said they are dedicated to finding solutions to ensure what happened to Emily never happens again.
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Dig deeper:
Questions were raised as to why Emily was placed in the group home.
"Was there any specific reasoning in placing her in Tribal DCS but off tribal land?"
"We don't make that decision in law enforcement. That's totally up to social services."
"She was living in a home that was licensed by DCS, but she was placed there by the tribe."
"So who had jurisdiction, that's my question."
"The tribe had jurisdiction over her case so it was heard in tribal court."
What's next:
Emily's uncle says today's overall discussion is a step in the right direction.
"We need to ask these questions," he said. "All the way back from the beginning to when she was removed from the home until when she went missing, and then the investigative part, from that point on as well to where they found her body, you know, that whole process needs to be reviewed," said Pike Jr.
What you can do:
The tribe and FBI are offering a combined $150,000 reward for information leading to Emily's killer.