Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

Navajo Nation officials say 8‑year‑old Maleeka Boone, who went missing Thursday evening in the Coalmine Canyon area of the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, was found dead on Friday, and the FBI has opened an investigation alongside tribal police. Maleeka’s disappearance triggered a Turquoise Alert — Arizona’s alert system for missing Indigenous people, created under 'Emily’s Law' after the death of Emily Pike — underscoring continued concern over missing and murdered Native Americans. An FBI spokesperson declined to release details about how she died, and Navajo Nation police have not yet responded publicly about the circumstances or possible suspects. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren called the death 'devastating' in a social media video and said the tragedy 'weighs heavy' on his heart, as the community awaits answers. The case is likely to fuel renewed scrutiny of how quickly law enforcement responds to missing Native children and how effectively the Turquoise Alert system is being used.