In Arizona, the unsettling pattern of missing Indigenous teenagers from group homes persists with the disappearance of 17-year-old Veronica Cruz, who has not been seen since May 18, 2024. Cruz vanished from the same facility where Emily Pike, a 14-year-old Apache teen, lived before she was tragically found dead, her remains discarded in trash bags near Globe, Arizona. As the community reeled from Pike's murder and searches for Cruz, a march to raise awareness about missing Indigenous people was organized on Tuesday, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
The joint search for Pike's killer and the efforts to find Cruz underscore a crisis that has long afflicted Indigenous communities. Mesa Police Department, prodding into the depths of this issue, reported to 12News 30 instances of residents going missing from the same home over the past three years. Raquel Moody with Turtle Island Women Warriors, lamented, "It bothers me so much because she was just a baby."
According to national data, Arizona has seen 91 Indigenous persons reported as missing – a number that activists fear may be an undercount. Among the ongoing cases is that of Alexander Eskee, who disappeared after an altercation in June of 2020. A break occurred in his case when a vehicle linked to him was discovered in a remote area, though this did not bring closure to his family. Berdie Bitsui, Eskee's mother, expressed her frustrations to FOX 10 Phoenix, saying, "Apparently, it was there for five years," regarding the vehicle's discovery and her suspicion of foul play.
The Department of Child Safety (DCS) has launched a licensing inquiry into the group home that was the last known residence for both Emily Pike and Veronica Cruz, their statement clarified the department's position, released by a DCS spokesperson to 12News, "At this time, the Department does not believe any action taken, or not taken, by the group home caused the terrible outcome in this case." Gila County Sheriff's Office, grappling with the severity of Pike's case, has since established a task force with the FBI, BIA, and local law enforcement to pursue justice in the ongoing investigation.
The Gila County Sheriff's Office has provided a tip line for those with information about Pike, and the community is also informed that a $75,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest. For tips on the Emily Pike investigation, the public is encouraged to select the San Carlos Apache Police Department in the dropdown menu on the dedicated website.
