Vigil held in honor of murdered teen from San Carlos Apache Tribe

GILA COUNTY, AZ (AZFamily) — Family, friends and community members came together to honor 14-year-old Emily Pike one month after her dismembered remains were found dumped off a highway in eastern Arizona.

No arrests have been made, but the brutal murder has led to several rallies, prayer events and memorials throughout Arizona.

On Saturday, there was a vigil held in the San Carlos Apache Community, where Emily is from.

Emily’s family told Arizona’s Family that investigators said it could be weeks until they’re able to release Emily’s remains to them as they continue to gather evidence. Since they haven’t been able to hold a proper funeral and lay her to rest, events that bring the community together for Emily are all the more meaningful.

“Just a nice sweet little girl, and I love my granddaughter,” said Agatha Key, Emily’s grandma.

Dozens of people from various tribes and states came to the Apache Gold Casino Resort on Saturday night to light candles, sing songs, wave flags and hold up signs in Emily’s memory as the fight for answers in her case continues.

RELATED: Emily Pike’s family wants Amber Alert system for missing Indigenous people

Many in the crowd had red handprints across their face, symbolizing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. It’s meant to spread awareness about the violence that disproportionately affects Indigenous women and girls.

Emily ran away from a Mesa group home near the end of January and her dismembered remains were found in trash bags off the U.S. 60, north of Globe, on Valentine’s Day.

“Our hearts are torn to pieces and just getting that justice will give us peace of mind to know that this individual won’t be able to do that to anyone else,” said Allred Pike Jr., Emily’s uncle.

In the last week, six Native and Valley artists worked together to create a mural of Emily on a large water tank off of the U.S. 70 on the San Carlos Apache Community. They started the mural last Friday and worked day and night to complete it in five days.

On Saturday, community members added red handprints to it. Emily’s family also took part in the tribute.

“What better way for artists to come together and collaborate to make something beautiful. It’s like she’s alive again in this mural,” said one of the artists behind the mural, Carrie Curley. “This tank’s huge. It’s loud and we need to continue as San Carlos, as Indigenous people all around the world, we need to be loud for those who feel like they don’t have a voice in these moments and for Emily.”

The San Carlos Apache tribe is now offering a $75,000 reward for information that helps police track down the killer. Emily’s family hopes that this reward encourages anyone who knows anything to come forward so there can be justice for Emily and healing can begin for her loved ones.

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