After the murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, community efforts and calls for institutional reform have increased. Local resident and tribe member Jolene Shorty has been distributing flyers in the Valley, aimed at truckers, with information about Pike's case in an effort to gather tips that could assist in the investigation. This mobilization follows the discovery of Pike's remains off Highway 60, as detailed in a report by ABC15.
Carrying flyers with key details, including where Pike was last seen and where her body was discovered, Shorty is focusing on truckers due to the high volume of traffic along the route where Emily's remains were found. Shorty and her family are also sponsoring billboards in Superior, Miami, and Globe to help raise awareness. They are working to ensure their efforts contribute to the capture of the perpetrator. As Shorty stated, "I feel like us as tribal members, as a nation, our work is not done. The person is still free. We need to get that person back," she told ABC15.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is urging state officials to investigate state-licensed residential group homes, including Sacred Journey, Inc., where Emily ran away from in January before her murder. The tribe has called for an inquiry and stronger regulations, referencing Emily's case and the issue of other runaways from the facility. As per a press statement by San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler, “This crime must not go unsolved,” emphasizing both the severity of the attack and the imperative for justice, according to an AZ Mirror article.
The call has been acknowledged within the Arizona legislature, with Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Carine Werner indicating plans to organize a bipartisan hearing to examine the safety protocols of group homes. The tribe is also backing House Bill 2281, which would establish a Missing Indigenous Person Alert System. Additionally, they are encouraging the public to contribute to a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Emily's case. "What happened to these other children?" He added, "Are they all safe and accounted for? Why has this clear failure to protect these children been allowed to continue unabated for years?" Chairman Rambler questioned, as reported by AZ Mirror.
Both the local efforts led by individuals like Shorty and the tribe’s pursuit of legislative change reflect a continued focus on ensuring the safety of indigenous children in state care and securing accountability in the event of loss.
