Emily Pike Homicide Probe Expands, Reward Raised

Emily Pike, a 14-year-old member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, disappeared from a Mesa group home in January, and her dismembered remains were found in trash bags near Globe, Arizona, in February, with some parts still missing. The Pinal County Medical Examiner ruled her death as homicidal violence with blunt head trauma. Despite a joint investigation by the Gila County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, San Carlos Apache Police, and Mesa police, no suspects have been identified and no arrests made. Pike's family has filed a lawsuit concerning the mishandling of her prior sexual assault case and issues with group home protocols. Authorities have increased the reward for information leading to an arrest to $200,000, contributed by the state, FBI, and San Carlos Apache Tribe. Investigators do not believe Pike was killed where her body was found and have executed search warrants at multiple locations as the case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of Indigenous youth.