San Carlos Apache tribe demands investigation into group homes after Emily Pike's murder
A memorial honoring San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike can be seen at the intersection of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road in Mesa, the location where she was last seen in January. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror
The San Carlos Apache tribe wants state leaders to launch an investigation and implement stricter regulations for state-licensed residential group homes that serve children after a tribal teen ran away from a facility in January and was brutally murdered.
At the time of her disappearance, Emily Pike, 14, lived in a group home in Mesa. The San Carlos Tribe's Social Services Department placed her at Sacred Journey, Inc., a residential child care center.
'This crime must not go unsolved,' San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler said in a press release. 'Emily was murdered in a cruel, depraved and heinous act and the perpetrator(s) must be held accountable.'
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Emily ran away from the group home and was last seen on the evening of Jan. 27 near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, according to the Mesa Police Department. Two days later, the police issued a poster for Emily, labeling her as missing or a runaway juvenile.
A month after she went missing, the Gila County Sheriff's Office reported that Emily's remains were found on Feb. 14 in a remote area off of U.S. Route 60 outside of Globe.
It remains an active homicide investigation, and GCSO is collaborating with several agencies, including the San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
'Our Council has offered a $75,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Emily's murder,' Rambler said, and the tribe is requesting the public to supplement the reward to generate more interest and leads.
The San Carlos Apache Tribal Council sent a letter to Gov. Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes and members of the Arizona Legislature requesting an investigation into the group home and calling for legislative reform on the regulations of state-licensed youth group homes. The council cited Emily's death and reports about other children who have run away from the group home in Mesa.
The tribe said that Emily is not the first child reported as a runaway from the Sacred Journey, noting that the Mesa Police Department reported that about 30 children have run away from the group home over the past three years.
'What happened to these other children?' Rambler said. 'Are they all safe and accounted for? Why has this clear failure to protect these children been allowed to continue unabated for years?'
The tribe said that is ample reason for the state to require a comprehensive review that goes beyond the ongoing police investigation into Emily's murder.
Ramber said the tribe is requesting Hobbs, with her background in social work, to take all steps necessary to implement reforms in group homes across the state that will ensure the safety of children.
And the tribe wants Mayes to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Emily's unauthorized departure from Sacred Journey.
Rambler said the investigation should carefully review the safety, security, monitoring, licensing and operational standards for group homes and determine ways to strengthen these to prevent children from leaving their care without permission.
'We ask that your recommendations be presented to the Legislature to be considered in appropriate legislation that is named in honor of Emily Pike,' he added.
The council also called for support on House Bill 2281, which, if passed, will establish a Missing Indigenous Person Alert System.
The tribe's request to investigate the Arizona Department of Child Services group home regulations is not the only one brought forward following Emily's death.
Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Carine Werner is also calling for a probe into the group home regulations.
'My heart goes out to those who are grieving the senseless and horrific murder of Emily Pike,' she said. 'Senate Republicans are currently gathering information on what can be done to prevent future tragedies such as this.
Werner said that she intends to convene a bipartisan hearing for the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety, which will include officials from DCS, law enforcement, lawmakers, tribal councils, and their social services departments.
She said the goal will be to examine the procedures, protocols and policies in place to ensure the safety and security of children in these group homes.
'Arizona's licensed group homes have repeatedly made headlines for egregious mistakes that have cost lives of the children within their care and have threatened the safety of staff,' she said.
Werner said that there may be underlying systemic issues requiring immediate reforms within these government-funded entities, and there should be an opportunity to assess where mistakes are occurring and determine the next steps moving forward.
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