Sacramento Launches Task Force to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
'Our communities have been calling for attention, awareness, and action for over 20 years, but today is where awareness meets action,' said Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango.
The newly established task force will implement protocols for cold case reviews, improve data sharing, and conduct culturally informed investigations.
'Over 84% of American Indian and Alaska native women experience violence in their lifetimes, and they are murdered at 10 times the national average,' the Chairman adds. 'There are more than 4,200 unresolved cases of missing and murdered indigenous people in the U.S., with California ranking fifth in the nation for the most unresolved MMIP cases.'
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Only 9% of cases involving murdered indigenous women in California have been solved, compared to 60% of the non-native population.
Local, state, and federal officials emphasized that these are not just statistics—they represent mothers, daughters, sisters, and sons.
'It's an obligation to our ancestors, who have endured unthinkable loss,' the Chairman says.
Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho, a key organizer of the task force, underscored its significance:
'It is a promise to every Indigenous child growing up today that their lives will be valued.'
Christina Kazhe, Attorney General of Wilton Rancheria, notes how widespread the crisis is.
'You could talk to any person here today, and they know somebody who has gone missing or been murdered.'
That's especially true for Wilton Rancheria Tribal Councilwoman Annette Williams, whose niece, Angel Baby, was murdered in 2001. The case remains unsolved more than 20 years later.
'It's been like it was yesterday,' Williams told Fox40. 'We tried everything. We went to the police department, we put out flyers.'
Two weeks ago, the family released a documentary highlighting Angel Baby's case.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said the task force will hit the ground running.
'We're reviewing some old cold cases right now, looking at things and figuring out where we can go — and really work with the tribe to address these issues.'
At this time, officials have not disclosed the number of cases under active review.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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