Rita Janelle Papakee was 41 years old when she was last seen leaving the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama, Iowa at 1:00 p.m. on January 16, 2015. She has never been seen or heard from again. Rita is an Indigenous woman and a registered member of the Meskwaki Nation. She is a mother of four. She may have traveled to Cedar Rapids or Des Moines, Iowa after her disappearance, but that has been unconfirmed. She was reported missing by her family on February 18, 2015 when she didn't pick up her paycheck.

Rita Papakee would be 49 years old at the time of this recording. She is described as an Indigenous female with brown hair and brown eyes, 5’4” and 145-200 lbs. We do not know what she was last seen wearing. 

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Rita or her current whereabouts is encouraged to call the Meskwaki Tribal Police Department at 641-484-4844.

Links and Resources

https://charleyproject.org/case/rita-janelle-papakee

https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/rita-papakee/

https://www.meskwaki.org/sahnish-scouts-bring-assistance-with-a-renewed-search-for-rita-papakee/

https://www.meskwaki.org/rita-papakee-case-update-reward-increased-to-75000/

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