FBI now part of investigation into murder and dismemberment of 14-year-old Emily Pike
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The FBI is now involved in the investigation into who killed 14-year-old Emily Pike, who ran away from a Mesa group home. Detectives found her dismembered remains off a rural road northeast of Globe on Valentine’s Day.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the lead agency on the case, said Wednesday they have now developed leads and that in addition to the other agencies who were already working on the case, the FBI is helping investigate those in hopes of making an arrest.
“The possibility that this is somebody who enjoys doing this type of thing is a horrible possibility,” said Jim Egleston, a retired FBI special agent.
Egleston has insight into what detectives are likely working on now and why the FBI would get involved.
Mesa Police said it was back on January 27 when Emily Pike ran away from her group home in Mesa.
On February 14, her remains were discovered off Highway 60, north of Globe. They were dismembered and in trash bags with her hands and arms missing.
“Somebody who committed this kind of murder, do we believe this is their first time killing?” asked True Crime correspondent Briana Whitney.
“Probably not. I would say and they probably are older, just the fact they have to have the means to get out there in some kind of transportation,” said Egleston.
Egleston said the FBI is likely starting with technology when it comes to leads.
“Cellular analysis, looking not only at her devices, but what cell phones might have been in the area where she was found and in the area where she went missing. Is there something in common now that could identify a single person,” said Egleston.
“They’ll also be looking for clues from behavior or personality traits of the killer, especially at the crime scene.
Did the killer leave behind a signature or something that would have meant something to them? Is there a reason they took Emily’s hands and arms?
“She may have fought back, may have scratched the person or people who attacked her, and therefore their DNA may be under her fingernails, and they were possibly aware of that and trying to prevent that from being discovered,” said Egleston. “A sexual sadist would commit these types of crimes either from the pleasure they derive from it or to cover up what they’ve done.”
Egleston said they also must look at Emily’s activity in the days before she disappeared.
While he isn’t sure if this was committed by someone Emily knew or by someone she came in contact with after she ran away, he suspects a similar scenario played out either way.
“I think she would be unfortunately too willing to trust the wrong person in the wrong circumstances and probably got taken advantage of in that way,” said Egleston.
Egleston said the medical examiner’s report will be key in this case and could provide how she was killed before her body was dismembered and potentially by what weapon.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said that while they are working on the leads, they can’t go into detail about them as it would jeopardize the investigation.
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