An 8-year-old girl who was reported missing on tribal lands in northern Arizona has been tragically found deceased. Authorities made the discovery on Friday, January 16.
Maleeka Boone, as identified by Navajo Nation officials, was last sighted on Thursday evening in the Coalmine Canyon area, situated 240 miles north of Phoenix in the United States.
The FBI, in collaboration with tribal police, is leading the investigation but has not disclosed specifics regarding her passing. Messages seeking further information from a tribal police spokesperson were not immediately returned, as reported by the Associated Press.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed deep sorrow over Maleeka’s death in a social media video, stating, “This tragedy weighs heavily on my heart.”
Following her disappearance, a Turquoise Alert was issued, a notification system designed for missing Native Americans. In Arizona, this alert system was named “Emily’s Law” in memory of Emily Pike, whose remains were discovered on February 14 over 100 miles away from the group home she departed from in Mesa, Arizona.
The unfortunate event surrounding Pike’s death sparked a renewed effort to raise awareness about the disproportionately high number of disappearances and violent deaths afflicting Native American communities for years. This advocacy led lawmakers to amend the bill to honor and acknowledge Emily Pike.