Latest news with #Sa'Wade
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Where is Sa'Wade Birdinground ? Missing Montana teen's last-known location revealed
A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information that helps find 13-year-old Sa'Wade Birdinground. She went missing from her grandparents' home in Montana last October. The FBI's Salt Lake City office is offering $5,000, and the Crow Tribe, which Sa'Wade belongs to, is giving another $5,000. After a press conference on Friday, people from the community walked together and released red balloons at Little Big Horn College. This was a way to show their hope and support to bring Sa'Wade back home, according to Yellowstone Public Radio. Sa'Wade's case is part of a bigger problem in the U.S.—many Indigenous people, especially women and girls, go missing or are murdered. In states like Montana, where there are big Native communities, this happens more often. The group Native Hope says Indigenous women are killed at a rate 10 times higher than other women who live on reservations. Murder is the third top cause of death for Native women. The Department of Justice has a program called 'Operation Not Forgotten' that tries to help by giving more support to investigate these cases and fix the unfair treatment Native people often face. Sa'Wade was last seen on the night of October 6, 2024, at her grandparents' house on the Crow Indian Reservation in Garryowen, Montana. She hasn't been seen or heard from since. The reservation is about 65 miles southeast of Billings. It's near where Sitting Bull's camp used to be and close to the Little Bighorn River. Long ago, the area was used by Plains Indian tribes for summer hunting, and one of the biggest Native gatherings in North America happened there. Also Read: 5 bodies appearing to be missing musicians of Mexican regional music band found near Texas border At the time she went missing, Sa'Wade was around 5'4' to 5'5' tall, weighed between 130–140 pounds, had curly brown hair and brown eyes. She often wore an elk tooth necklace. That night, she was wearing a black hoodie with mushrooms on it, an anime T-shirt, basketball shorts, and purple slip-on Skechers. She might also have had a black and purple Adidas backpack, according to the FBI. So far, searches by the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, local police, the Montana National Guard, and community volunteers haven't found any solid leads or sightings, local news station KTVQ reported. Officials say this case stands out because of Sa'Wade's young age and the situation around her disappearance. They also pointed out that many Native families go through this every year, with loved ones going missing and not enough answers.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
FBI offers $5,000 reward for information on Montana teen missing for 8 months
GARRYOWEN, Montana () — The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a missing 13-year-old from Montana. A new tipline phone number has been established solely for her case: 801-579-6195. Sa'Wade Birdinground was last seen at her family's residence in Garryowen, Montana, on October 6, 2024. She is 13 years old, roughly 5'4″ to 5'5″ tall, 130-140 pounds, and has brown eyes and curly brown hair. According to the FBI, Birdinground was last seen wearing a black hoodie with mushrooms on it, an anime t-shirt, basketball shorts, and purple slip-on Skechers. She may have been wearing a black and purple Adidas backpack and an elk tooth necklace. Utah`s next earthquake could hit harder, U of U research suggests In a press conference today, Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed from the FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office held a press conference on the search for Birdinground. The SLC Field Office covers Montana, Utah, and Idaho. 'Eight months ago today, on October 6, 2024, Sa'Wade disappeared from her family home in Garryowen. This was the last time those of you who know and love Sa'Wade saw her,' Syed stated. 'Eight months is an incomprehensible amount of time for any family to be without their child.' Syed reiterated the FBI's commitment to finding Birdinground. He said that they are working closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Tribe Executive Branch, the Tribe's Search and Rescue, and the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office to bring the 13-year-old home. According to Syed, the FBI and local law enforcement have 'conducted dozens of interviews, searched hundreds of acres of land, and brought every technical resource to bear.' He said that the FBI is 'fully committed' to this investigation and bringing Birdinground home. St. George to crack down on off-highway vehicles after fatal crash kills 9-year-old boy 'I've never met Sa'Wade, but I've learned a lot about what kind of teen she is,' he said. 'Quiet with strangers but outgoing with family and friends, kind, artistic … She is well-liked by her friends and teachers, many of whom talked about her sense of humor and how Sa'Wade makes them laugh … Sa'Wade enjoyed spending time with her siblings, and they miss her dearly.' This year, the FBI has 'doubled the number of special agents' who are working Indian Country cases in the Billings Resident Agency. These agents will assist with Birdinground's case and other investigations in the area. This effort is part of the FBI's Operation Not Forgotten, which launched in 2023. 'We want our Native American communities to know, you are not forgotten. We hear you; you matter. Sa'Wade is not forgotten, she matters, and we are doing everything in our power to bring her home,' Syed stated. Anyone with information on Birdinground's disappearance should contact the tip line established for her case, 801-579-6195, or their local FBI field office. Ram kills the $40K truck, brings back the HEMI Assassin dancers, existential nuns, and comedy that cuts deep Two inmates charged for allegedly stabbing 'rival gang member' at Utah State Prison FBI offers $5,000 reward for information on Montana teen missing for 8 months Pride Festival: Here are the street closures happening in Salt Lake City Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
