PHOENIX — On Wednesday, Gov. Katie Hobbs held the ceremonial signing of HB 2281, establishing “Emily’s Law,” inspired by the death of a San Carlos Apache teen girl.
The new law authorizes the Department of Public Safety to establish a Turquoise Alert System for when a Native American has been reported as missing.
“I thank Governor Hobbs and the state Legislature for enacting into law Emily’s Law, in remembrance of Emily Pike, a member of our Tribe and my relative. Thank you Governor Hobbs for making missing and murdered Indigenous People a priority of your administration,” San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler wrote in a social media post.
Emily Pike, 14, was first reported missing from a group home in Mesa on Jan. 27. Her remains were discovered Feb. 14, on the side of Forest Service Road 355, off U.S. Highway 60 near milepost 277, in Gila County, off the reservation.
Hobbs also announced that DPS is offering a reward of $25,000 for credible information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for Pike’s death. That brings the total reward to $175,000, with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the FBI offering $75,000 each.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Gila County Sheriff’s Office at 928-200-2352.
