Vanished and Voiceless: Emily Pike and the Fight for Justice

When 14-year-old Emily Pike ran away from a Mesa group home, no one could have predicted her story would end in tragedy or that her death would become a symbol of a broken, underfunded, and overlooked system. Her shocking murder brought national attention to the epidemic of the hundreds of missing and murdered Indigenous people whose cases are ignored or not investigated. Justin Yentes is joined by Chief Hilario Tanakeyowma, a veteran of Tribal law enforcement, and investigator Mike Lancaster in this eye-opening episode. They share insights into the systemic barriers that hinder justice on Tribal lands: jurisdictional confusion, a lack of mental health resources, and the generational trauma that silences communities.

Key Topics:

1. The facts and timeline of Emily Pike’s case
2. The challenges in Tribal law enforcement and jurisdiction
3. Underreporting and stigma around missing Indigenous children
4. How federal and tribal governments fail to fund investigations
5. What justice and reform could look like for Indigenous communities

If you care about justice, accountability, and amplifying the voices of those too often silenced, this episode is for you. Emily’s story and the stories of countless others can no longer be ignored.

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Justin's Website: ​​https://azprivateinvestigator.com/

DOJ Office for Victims of Crime: https://ovc.ojp.gov/topics/missing-murdered-indigenous-persons/related-links

Dept. of the Interior, Indian Affairs: https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: https://www.niwrc.org/

Native Hope Outreach: https://www.nativehope.org/