Federal officials meet with family members of Emily Pike
WASHINGTON, DC (AZFamily) — The murder case of San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike is reaching some of the highest officials in the Trump administration. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday that he, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other members of the Interior Department met with Pike’s family.
“This meeting was a heartbreaking reminder of the urgency to end violence against Indigenous women and girls. We’re committed to bringing justice for Emily and all those impacted by these crimes,” said Burgum on social media.
He also highlighted that the FBI is offering a $75,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in Pike’s case, matching the reward being offered by the San Carlos Apache tribe. “This is a huge step in helping get the justice Emily and her family need and deserve,” Burgum said.
Pike went to a Mesa group home because of mental health struggles, according to her former roommate. One of her cousins talked to her weeks before she vanished and said Pike planned to return to the reservation within a month. She then ran away from the group home and police reported her missing to the National Crime Information Center on Jan. 27, the same day police got word of her disappearance.
Pike’s mother, Steff Dosela, has said in interviews that she didn’t hear about her daughter’s disappearance until a week later. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said her body parts were found in trash bags on Feb. 14 off U.S. 60 northeast of Globe, more than 80 miles from the group home.
The brutal murder sparked outrage across the U.S. and helped shine light on a crisis that has long plagued Native American communities, where a disproportionate number of people have been killed or have gone missing.
RELATED: Emily Pike’s family wants Amber Alert system for missing Indigenous people
Pike’s case has drawn attention across social media. Some people have shared photos of themselves, their mouths covered with a red handprint that has become emblematic of the movement to end the violence. Posts included the hashtags #NoMoreStolenSisters, #SayHerName and #JusticeforEmily.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office at (623) 466-1999. You can also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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