As the community continues to reel from the tragic murder of Emily Pike, a 14-year-old runaway whose partial remains were discovered on February 14, authorities are tirelessly working to bring her killer to justice. Elizabeth Morales, CEO of Sacred Journey, Inc., the group foster home where Emily resided, has expressed firm belief in an interview with ABC15 that "this case is not going to go cold" and remains optimistic about the ongoing investigation.
Morales, who has over two decades of experience operating group homes, has faced scrutiny following Emily's death, with social media users directing outrage toward the institution's safety and care protocols. Despite the challenges, Morales stands by the services provided by Sacred Journey, insisting that they go "above and beyond" in not just housing, but "parenting children." In the wake of the tragedy, a grassroots campaign led by Jolene Shorty, a San Carlos Apache tribal member, is now pushing for increased visibility in the case, including billboards and fliers across local communities.
The magnitude of the incident has drawn the attention of both the public and lawmakers. A licensing investigation by the Arizona Department of Child Safety is underway to determine whether the group home took the appropriate steps during this tragic incident. The department has, so far, expressed the belief that the group home was not at fault for the "terrible outcome" in Emily's case, as stated in an official comment to Arizona's Family.
True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney managed to obtain responses from the group home's manager regarding their safety measures and the impact of the event on both staff and children still living at the home. Addressing questions of whether the home actively searches for runaway kids, the manager clarified, "We are a hands-off facility. We will never put our hands on a child," indicating that police assistance is sought when children are a danger to themselves or others. Concerning the numerous missing person reports associated with the facility, the manager clarified that all missing children had been accounted for and that the figure did not represent 30 currently missing youths.
The group home has a long history of providing for children in need, emphasized by the manager's commitment to creating a normal environment for their residents. Referring to the connection the home maintains with its former residents, the manager told True Crime Arizona, "We are still in contact with 95% of the children who have lived in our home."
