GILA COUNTY, AZ — Authorities have confirmed that a body discovered in the woods belongs to 14-year-old Emily Pike, a missing Native American girl from the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office made the tragic announcement on Thursday, revealing that they are leading a homicide investigation into her death.
Emily was last seen on January 27 near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road. Nearly three weeks later, on February 14, investigators made a grim discovery off U.S. 60, a few miles from the Jackson Butte Recreation area. Authorities described the crime scene as disturbing, The Independent reported.
More:Â 50-Year-Old Man Strangles 30-Year-Old Girlfriend Over Scam Suspicion
More:Â Kentucky Father Kills Wife and Her Friend in Double Murder-Suicide Days After She Filed for Divorce
Detectives found the teen’s remains in large contractor trash bags, with her head and torso placed in one bag and her legs in separate bags. However, her arms and hands remain missing. A preliminary autopsy revealed that Emily had sustained visible trauma to her face and head, adding to the growing suspicions surrounding the case.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about Emily’s disappearance or those responsible for her death to come forward. Law enforcement officials continue to search for additional evidence and to bring justice to the victim and her family.
The case has drawn attention from advocacy groups, particularly those focused on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), who argue that Emily’s tragic fate underscores a broader crisis affecting Native communities.
More:Â Elderly Aiken Man Surrenders on Hit-and-Run Charge in Dirt Bike Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Girl
More: Woman Charged with Murder for Allegedly Injecting Morphine into Alzheimer’s-Stricken Mother
Investigators are working closely with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other agencies to ensure a thorough investigation. Authorities have yet to release any details about possible suspects. As the search for answers continues, the community mourns the loss of a young girl whose life was brutally cut short. The sheriff’s office has vowed to pursue justice and provide closure to Emily’s grieving loved ones.
For You:
- 50-Year-Old Man Strangles 30-Year-Old Girlfriend Over Scam Suspicion
- Kentucky Father Kills Wife and Her Friend in Double Murder-Suicide Days After She Filed for Divorce
- Elderly Aiken Man Surrenders on Hit-and-Run Charge in Dirt Bike Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Girl
- Woman Charged with Murder for Allegedly Injecting Morphine into Alzheimer’s-Stricken Mother
- Horrifying Abuse Case: Indiana Parents Accused of Starving and Zip-Tying Their 10-Year-Old Son
- 33-Year-Old Man Kills Girlfriend, Her 13-Year-Old Son, and Friend Before Taking His Own Life