The FBI, along with Navajo Nation law enforcement, is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of 8-year-old Maleeka "Mollie" Boone, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The Young girl's untimely demise has rattled the Navajo community, wherein she was reported missing from her Coalmine neighborhood on January 15, only to be found dead in a nearby field the next morning.
Details surrounding Maleeka's death remain scarce; however, the FBI has issued a poster divulging certain specifics of the case. Maleeka had left a family member's home at around 4:15 p.m. to make the short journey back to her own, both residences located in proximity within the same neighborhood. She was reported missing at 6:00 p.m., and her body was discovered around 8:30 a.m. on January 16, as detailed by AZ Central.
The FBI has launched a robust investigation into the circumstances of her death, though no official cause or manner has yet been released. In a collaborative effort to apprehend those involved, the federal agency and tribal police are actively seeking tips from the public. The bureau has established a toll-free tip line, 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), and also accepts information through their website, urging anyone with knowledge pertaining to the incident to come forward.
Community members have been shaken by the tragic loss, and officials hope the hefty reward will encourage potential witnesses or anyone with pertinent information to break their silence. "Both residents are in the same neighborhood and, in close proximity to each other," read a portion of the FBI's announcement, a sentence illustrating a critical yet disheartening fact about the proximity between where Maleeka was last seen and where her body was found. The FBI reiterated their call to action, stating that any piece of information could prove pivotal in the pursuit of justice for Mollie Boone.
