An 8-year-old girl who was reported missing on tribal lands in northern Arizona has been found deceased. The tragic discovery of the girl occurred on Friday, January 16, according to authorities.
Maleeka Boone, as identified by Navajo Nation officials, was last seen on Thursday evening in the Coalmine Canyon area, which is situated 240 miles north of Phoenix in the United States.
The FBI, in collaboration with tribal police, is leading the investigation into her death. While a spokesperson for the FBI declined to disclose specifics regarding her passing, the Associated Press attempted to reach out to a tribal police representative via email.
Expressing his sorrow, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren described Maleeka’s death as a profound tragedy in a social media video. Nygren stated, “This tragedy weighs heavy on my heart.”
Following her disappearance, a Turquoise Alert was issued, which is an alert mechanism for Native Americans who have gone missing. In Arizona, the alert system was established as “Emily’s Law” to commemorate Emily Pike, whose remains were discovered on February 14 over 100 miles away from a group home she had left in Mesa, Arizona.
The death of Pike spurred a renewed push for awareness and activism to address the disproportionate number of disappearances and violent deaths that have affected Native American communities for years. This movement prompted legislators to amend the bill in her honor.