In April 2015, 30-year-old Jessie Waters' lifeless body was discovered just off Hwy 18 just south of Oglala in South Dakota. Even though her life was marred by domestic violence, there are still no arrests made in connection with her death, and her family is still seeking justice.

Sources:

https://indianz.com/News/2019/01/28/native-sun-news-justice-for-jessie.asp

https://indianz.com/News/2015/017805.asp

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11865215/Jesie-Waters

https://www.nativesunnews.today/articles/family-wants-justice-for-murdered-oglala-woman/

https://www.thehotline.org/support-others/ways-to-support-a-domestic-violence-survivor/

https://ncadv.org/why-do-victims-stay

https://apnews.com/article/drug-crimes-sd-state-wire-south-dakota-crime-law-enforcement-307069e11354966bbec6ce9625246237

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In February 1979, Mona Lisa Two Eagle was last seen leaving her home on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota only to be found two weeks later murdered in a field. Her family is still seeking justice.

If you have any information regarding the murder of Mona Lisa Two Eagle please contact the BIA OJS MMU at 1-833-560-2065.

Sources:

MOU 2022 FBI BIA

Equity Action Plan Summary: U.S. Department of the Interior (whitehouse.gov)

CREC-2017-10-05-pt1-PgS6361.pdf (congress.gov)

Mona Lisa Two Eagle | Indian Affairs (bia.gov)

When the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis Hits Home | Teen Vogue

The Unsolved 1979 Murder Of Mona Lisa Two Eagle

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In May 2016, 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike and her 9-year-old brother were playing together on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, New Mexico, when a man they didn’t know — drove up in a van and offered them a ride home. The events of that day led to Ashlynn’s abrupt and violent end, calling attention to the jurisdictional issues surrounding the failed AMBER alert that could’ve saved her.

Sources:

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/five-years-after-ashlynne-mikes-death-family-seeks-proper-headstone/#:~:text=On%20May%202%2C%202016%2C%2011,19%2C%20leads%20country%20in%20vaccinations

https://www.ojp.gov/archives/ojp-blogs/2019/legacy-ashlynne-mike

https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/crime/2017/08/01/begaye-pleads-guilty-ashlynne-mike-killing/529899001/

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a19561163/ashlynne-mike-amber-alert-navajo-reservation/

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/navajo-nation-girl-assaulted-killed-after-man-kidnapped-her-while-she-was-playing

https://www.amberadvocate.org/amber-feature/ashlynnes-law/

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/suspect-navajo-nation-tom-begaye-kidnap-murder-ashlynne-mike-navajo-nation/

https://www.nhonews.com/news/2019/jun/27/man-who-murdered-ashlynne-mike-wants-life-prison-t/

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On October 3rd, 2016, Larissa Lone Hill, 21, texted her cousin that she was leaving the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to head over to Rapid City with two male friends. She has not been seen or heard from again.

Larissa has brown hair and brown eyes. Her nickname is Rissa, and she may use the first name Lisa. She has identifying tattoos that include “Luda” on her knuckles, a bear claw with writing on her wrist, and the words “Mom” and “Lisa” somewhere on her body. She also has scars on the left side of her face.
In 2020, the criteria for the $5,000 award was changed and is now offered to anyone who can provide information as to where Larissa’s body is located.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Larissa Lone Hill, please contact the Rapid City Police Department at 605-394-4134 or call the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police at 605-867-5111.

Sources:

Larissa Lone Hill – The Charley Project

Missing: Larissa Lone Hill | Rapid City , SD | Uncovered

COLD CASE: Looking for Larissa Lonehill | KELOLAND.com

True Case Files: The Disappearance of Larissa Lone Hill

Indigenous people point to 'Missing White Woman Syndrome' in Gabby Petito case (greatfallstribune.com)

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On September 19th, 1984, two Indigenous girls from South Dakota were kidnapped as they were hitchhiking along a highway in Wyoming. While one of the girls survived, 12-year-old Sharon Baldeagle has never been seen or heard from again. 

Sources:

Sharon Baldeagle | International Missing Persons Wiki | Fandom

Judge Dismisses Murder Charges in Missing Girls' Case (oklahoman.com)

Sharon Baldeagle True Crime News: It’s Been 35 Years Since Sharon Baldeagle Was Last Seen in Casper (crimedoor.com)

Girl Tells of Escaping Man in Wyoming (oklahoman.com)

The Disappearances of Charlotte Kinsey & Cinda Pallett – Stories of the Unsolved

Greeley case shows how missing-child investigations evolved | AP News

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-sandi-brokenleg/39398091/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal/130353219/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/130353654/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal/130354456/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal/130356582/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal/130359721/

Sharon Baldeagle – The Charley Project

Wrong information leads to heartache and frustration for father of missing person Sharon Baldeagle - West River Eagle

Missing, murdered Native women: S.D. law aims to help, understand issue (argusleader.com)

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In July 2023, Candace McCulley Kehoe, a 26-year-old from Claremore, Oklahoma, lost her life at the hands of her abusive ex-husband. As we dive into her story, we are reminded that domestic violence is a common theme regarding MMIW. Her story not only highlights just how broken our court system is but how little support and protection these women have from their abusers.

Sources:

FOX23 speaks to sister of Claremore woman killed in suspected murder-suicide | News | fox23.com

Domestic violence apparently ends mother’s life; husband shoots himself | News | claremoreprogress.com

ricefuneralservice.com/obituaries/Candace-Michelle-Kehoe?obId=28557210

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In July 1989, Stacy Bigwitch, 21, of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians was shot and killed by her boyfriend after they got into an argument during a night out with friends. Her killer was arrested and sentenced, but was justice truly served? 

Rest in peace, Stacy.

For links to information found for this episode:

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-asheville-times/130033610/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record/130033924/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times/130034036/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-asheville-times/130034069/

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Eternity Flying Horse, 13, and Nevaeh Braveheart, 14, both tragically lost their young lives to senseless acts of violence. 

Although their murders were unrelated and happened within a year of each other (2021-2022), we cannot overlook the fact that their deaths bear similarities.

Sources:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/10/20/2130188/--Justice-for-Nevaeh-Police-arrest-man-who-killed-14-year-old-Indigenous-girl-in-hit-and-run-case

 https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/questions-left-in-a-13-year-olds-death/amp/

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Tasha Lewis, 29, was reported missing by her family in March 2021, only for her body to be discovered days later at the bottom of a mesa in Thoreau, Arizona. Police ruled her death accidental. However, her family is adamant that authorities overlooked several key factors that point to her death being a homicide. 

To stay up to date on Tasha’s story please follow Justice For Tasha Lewis | Facebook

Sources:

Missing, murdered cases face jurisdictional issues - Navajo Times

Arizona families remember missing and murdered Indigenous women (azcentral.com)

Shiprock recognizes MMIW awareness day in walk (daily-times.com)

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In October 2016, 34-year-old Freda Jane Knowshisgun planned to take her children trick-or-treating on Halloween 2016. Instead, one seemingly ordinary trip to the store led to her mysterious disappearance.

Freda’s physical description was as follows: American Indian woman, 5’5” tall, approximately 150 pounds, waist-length brown hair that was always tied back, brown eyes, with a scar on her right elbow and multiple tattoos, she has the names “Lyrical,” “Trinity” and “Mason” tattooed on her back between her shoulder blades, a cartoon character Mickey Mouse holding a basketball on her right calf, a flower and initials on her right shoulder, two masks, and her last name “Knows His Gun” on her upper right arm.

Anyone with information regarding Freda’s disappearance or current whereabouts should contact the Crow Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs at 406-638-2631 or the Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 406-444-2800.

Sources:

Missing: Freda Jane Knowshisgun | Kennewick, WA | Uncovered

The Unsolved Disappearance of Freda Knows His Gun | by Jennifer | The Mystery Box | Medium

Freda Jane Knows His Gun – The Charley Project

Last seen in Kennewick’s Walmart, family holds out hope of finding Freda Knowshisgun | The Vanished | yakimaherald.com

Freda Knowshisgun | Indian Affairs (bia.gov)

Justice for Native People: Freda Knowshisgun, missing from Montana since 2016. (justicefornativewomen.com)

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