The floor of the Arizona State Senate at the Arizona State Capitol building in Phoenix, Arizona. January 15, 2025
The San Carlos Apache Tribe wrote to Governor Katie Hobbs, the state Legislature, and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, calling for an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Emily Pike.
Pike was found in multiple garbage bags on a forest road northeast of Globe after missing from her group home in Mesa starting in late January. Investigating authorities have yet to arrest or name a suspect in her case.
According to the Tribe, over three years, about 30 children have run away from Sacred Journey, the group home where Pike stayed.
“What happened to these other children?” Chairman Terry Rambler said. “Are they all safe and accounted for? Why has this clear failure to protect these children been allowed to continue unabated for years?”
The Tribe is calling for a state review of group homes that goes beyond Pike’s murder investigation.
“This investigation should carefully review the safety, security, monitoring, licensing and operational standards for group homes and determine how these could be strengthened to prevent children from leaving their care without permission.
The tribe’s council is also offering a $75,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest for Pike’s murder.
“We have requested the public to supplement the reward to generate more interest and leads,” Rambler said. “This crime must not go unsolved. Emily was murdered in a cruel, depraved and heinous act and the perpetrator(s) must be held accountable.”
The tribe is also asking the legislature to support HB 2281, which would create an alert system when a tribal member goes missing, is in danger, or is in the company of a dangerous person.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.