Gira County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Information on Emily Pike’s Case

Updated March 8, 2025: Authorities are requesting any surveillance footage showing Emily Pike since January 26th, or any video that might offer clues regarding her potential sightings, as investigations into her murder remain stagnant.

Community’s Response:

The tragic death of 14-year-old Emily Pike has left several communities grieving and searching for answers.

Officials from the Mesa Police Station confirmed that Emily resided at a group home when she was reported missing.

She was last spotted in January near the intersection of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road. Tragically, her body was discovered a few weeks later, on Valentine’s Day, approximately 60 miles northeast of Glove.

Nearly a week after her identification, the Gira County Sheriff’s Office revealed they had a lead, with the FBI also becoming involved in the case.

Murder Investigation Insights:

“The Gira County Sheriff’s Office received tips from various individuals who had been in the vicinity,” noted James Larty. “Upon exploration of the area, they believed they uncovered a body in one of the bags,” he continued.

This grim discovery has propelled their investigation further. Although Emily was found on February 14th, it wasn’t until February 27th that her identity was confirmed.

When asked about any previous interest in the case, Gira County’s officials responded, “At this point, we have no known suspects.” However, they did indicate that there are some leads and that multiple agencies are collaborating.

“Detectives are coordinating with the Mesa Police, as that was the last recorded location of Emily,” added Rathi. “They’re also in touch with the FBI, the BIA, and other relevant state agencies.”

Additionally, communication has been established with the San Carlos Apache Police Department, since Pike’s family is connected to that tribe.

“We’re maintaining daily communication, actively developing leads, and trying to ascertain who last saw her,” Rathi elaborated.

Condition at the Group Home:

Annika Robinson, a foster care advocate, mentioned, “Our first step was to obviously approach the group home.” Her nonprofit, ASA, has been involved with Pike since 2023.

“It’s really challenging given that most children end up in group settings rather than family homes,” Robinson expressed.

Mesa police reported that there have been 30 instances involving missing children from group homes over a three-year span, some involving repeat occurrences. They noted that Pike had been missing four times, including this January, with three of those reports filed in 2023.

The Children’s Safety Bureau informed that Pike was not in their care at the time of her disappearance. Our team has reached out to the San Carlos Apache Tribe for further information.

“We need to resolve these issues, not just for Emily,” Robinson stated, reflecting on the plight of two other girls who also went missing from a group home in 2023.

In 2024, Robinson played a role in passing a law, HB2479, meant to establish reporting requirements for missing children, and she aims to build on this in memory of Pike.

“The law mandates that Child Welfare and the Child Safety Bureau must quickly notify families when their child goes missing,” she added.

Robinson is part of the Missing Children’s Task Force, emphasizing that their work is vital in saving and locating children.

A Call to Prayer:

The task force and ASA Now are organizing a prayer vigil in honor of Pike on Thursday night at Mesa.

“Her tribe will be in attendance,” Robinson shared. “The event will focus on peace and reflection, rather than protests.” She described it as a time for listening and connection.

Emily’s relative, Chris Docera, noted, “She was such a vibrant person; you couldn’t help but smile around her.” Meanwhile, former FBI agent Brad Garrett remarked, “Clearly, a horrific crime occurred against her.” He emphasized the importance of mobilizing efforts to track leads regarding both Emily’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Garrett, now a crime analyst, mentioned that collaboration between county police and federal agents would expedite their efforts in gathering critical information.

Currently, the Gira County Sheriff’s Office is aware of misinformation circulating regarding multiple suspects in Emily’s case, clarifying that as of now, there are no known suspects or persons of interest.

The family of Pike is also seeking donations to support local families during this difficult time.

Authorities in Gira County are urging anyone with relevant information to step forward as the community mourns their loss.

“Often people might think this isn’t a significant issue, but every piece of information can make a difference,” Rathi added.

Call for Justice:

On March 10th, various community groups will come together for a day dedicated to seeking justice for Emily Pike. A report on the “Day of Action” for her will follow.