Prayer Vigil held for Emily Pike

The Gila River Indian Community’s Victim Services Department (VSD) held a special prayer vigil in honor of Emily Pike, a young girl from the San Carlos Apache Tribe who was reported missing in January and her remains found weeks later.

Emily, 14, was reported as a runaway from a group home in Mesa on Jan. 27. Her dismembered remains were found in a remote area off the highway U.S. 60 near Globe on Feb. 14. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mesa Police Department, and San Carlos Apache Police on the investigation. Currently, there are no suspects and the San Carlos Apache Tribe is offering a $75,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Emily’s disappearance and horrific death has touched the hearts of many, reaffirming the widespread concern about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis. Her story is a stark reminder of the urgency and importance of addressing this crisis.

Over a hundred people gathered in the early morning of March 13 in Sacaton outside the Governance Center to honor Emily by sharing words and songs of healing. Their presence was a powerful testament to the Community’s support and their commitment to bringing awareness to Emily’s case and all who have been affected by the MMIP epidemic.

“We wanted to have this gathering to show support for everybody who’s going through a loss of a loved one or who doesn’t know where their loved one is,” said VSD director Katherine Lewis.

Emily’s family members traveled to the Community to attend the vigil.

“I want to acknowledge all the people that came here today to share this prayer,” said April Victor, Emily’s aunt. “We as Indigenous people, that’s how we show comfort for each other.”

Lt. Gov Regina Antone shared remarks and thanked those for coming out to show support. Gila River Police Department Chief Jesse Crabtree also spoke, explaining that there is no waiting period to report someone missing. If you feel that something is off, don’t hesitate to notify the police of a missing person. He encouraged the Community to work together and speak up to prevent tragedies like this.