Murder In America – EP. 198: ARIZONA – The Murder of Emily Pike
April 18, 2025 | Hosted by Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen
Episode Overview
This episode explores two devastating cases of murdered Native American girls: Ashlyn Mike (Navajo Nation, New Mexico, 2016) and Emily Pike (San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona, 2025). Co-hosts Courtney Shannon and Colin Browen delve into the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and children in the US. They lay bare the jurisdictional failures, underfunded policing, and deep-seated generational trauma facing these communities, telling Ashlyn and Emily’s stories with empathy, calling for justice, awareness, and reform.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Context: The Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
- Native American women experience murder as the third leading cause of death—far higher than the US average ([02:01]).
- Generational trauma, jurisdictional tangles, and socio-economic disenfranchisement drive a uniquely tragic epidemic.
Quote
“But when you look at Native American women, the third leading cause of death is something much more disheartening. Something that is preventable. …Murder. And today we are going to tell you the stories of Ashlyn Mike and Emily Pike, two women who became a part of this statistic. But sadly, it doesn’t even feel right to call them women because they were just little girls.”
— Courtney ([02:01])
2. Ashlyn Mike’s Story: Abduction, Jurisdiction Failures, and Systemic Reform
Ashlyn’s Childhood & Community
- Raised near the sacred Shiprock (Set Batai), described as “elegant,” artistic, and loving by family and community ([06:49]-[08:35]).
- Tight-knit community, strong family ties; abduction shocks everyone.
Quote
“[Ashlyn’s principal] described her as having, ‘this quiet elegance about her’.”
— ([08:35])
The Kidnapping (May 2, 2016) ([09:32]-[16:17])
- Tom Begay Jr., a local Navajo man, attempts to lure children at a bus stop.
- Ashlyn and brother Ian are abducted under the guise of helping with Ashlyn’s hurt foot.
- Ian recalls:
“Ashlyn began asking the man to turn around. He was crying in the backseat, and Ashlyn was panicking in the passenger seat. But even in the midst of her panic, she reached back and held Ian’s little hand, trying to comfort him.”
— ([12:54])
Family’s Search and Law Enforcement’s Failures ([18:36]-[31:05])
- Family and community mobilize rapidly, but jurisdictional confusion (tribal police, FBI, state police) delays Amber Alert by ~8 hours.
- Underfunded, understaffed tribal police a chronic issue.
- Jurisdictional confusion:
“If a major crime like murder or kidnapping takes place on tribal lands, the FBI or the Bureau of Indian affairs must step in… It’s incredibly complicated.”
— Colin ([18:36])
Finding Ashlyn—Too Late ([31:05]-[39:51])
- 24 hours later, Ashlyn is found raped and murdered; the killer is swiftly identified due to the community, not police.
- Tom Begay Jr. is arrested during a Navajo sweat lodge; he confesses to rape and murder ([39:51]).
- Deep betrayal by someone trusted in the community:
“I trusted him with my family. I trusted him with my daughter. And he betrayed me. …I knew him in the sunshine. I didn’t know him at home behind closed doors.”
— Rufus Dickey ([37:49])
Aftermath and Reform
- Amber Alert reforms follow; “Ashlyn Mike Amber Alert in Indian Country Act” makes crucial changes for tribal authority and funding ([42:25]-[43:57]).
- Tom Begay sentenced to life without parole ([43:57]).
3. Emily Pike’s Story: Vulnerability, Neglect, and Continuing Crisis
Emily’s Life & Challenges ([47:12]-[49:51])
- San Carlos Apache, raised in instability; described as “just a girl” who loved art and cared deeply.
- Mental health struggles led to group home placement; struggled to feel safe or supported in system care.
Quote
“She was excitement to us. She liked butterflies. She liked anything that sparkled. ...She was just a girl.”
— Aunt Carolyn Pike Bender ([47:38])
Runaways, Reports, & Red Flags ([51:27]-[53:59])
- Multiple prior runaway incidents; Emily voiced discomfort and distress about conditions at the group home.
- Systemic failures in listening to at-risk children’s pleas for help.
Final Disappearance & Discovery ([53:59]-[56:02])
- Disappeared January 27, 2025; staff notifies case managers, not family.
- Family learns of her disappearance more than a week later, losing crucial time ([53:59]).
- Her remains found over Valentine’s in trash bags—body mutilated, hands and feet missing ([56:02]).
- Revelation through a police Facebook memo—family learns with the rest of the world, compounding their grief.
Symbol of Injustice, Community Response ([56:02]-[58:22])
-
Emily’s case prompts national outcry; “#SayHerNameEmilyPike” trends.
-
Importance of recovering her missing parts for Apache spiritual beliefs:
“In our Apache culture, you have to be whole when you go into the next life. We have to find her and just help her travel into her journey as a Native person.”
— Twyla Casadore ([58:22]) -
Her killer remains unidentified; community and family push for answers.
4. Insights: The Systemic Crisis
Jurisdictional Chaos & Data Failures ([59:55]-[62:03])
- Podcast hosts detail the immense difficulty in tracking missing Indigenous children.
- Disparate databases, lack of communication between tribal, state, and national agencies.
- 2016: 5,712 cases reported but only 116 listed by DOJ.
“We looked on the national center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website…these cases weren’t there… then we went on to the Bureau of Indian Affairs website…none of the cases… had been posted nationally.”
— Colin ([59:55])
Perpetuating Invisibility
- The hosts mourn the invisibility of missing Indigenous youth to the wider public and media.
- Emily’s mother shares others’ stories to keep the spotlight on this ongoing crisis.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Courtney on statistics:
“Let that number and statistic sink in for a second. That means that for every three women, children or men that were sexually assaulted, only one would have a fighting chance of receiving justice.” ([18:36])
-
Pamela Foster (Ashlyn’s mother), on learning her daughter was missing:
“They kept putting me on hold… there was only one officer on duty at Shiprock…”
— ([21:14]) -
On memorializing Ashlyn:
“How do I begin a farewell when I still can’t believe you’re gone? How do I say goodbye to a part of my soul?"
— Ashlyn's mother ([41:50]) -
Emily’s aunt April Victoria:
“Emily was a spark and she definitely sparked the world. And now the world is on fire because of Emily.” ([56:02])
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [02:01] — Framing Native American murder rates / Introduction to Ashlyn and Emily
- [06:49] — Ashlyn Mike’s background and home
- [11:54] — The kidnapping
- [18:36] — Jurisdictional tangle and Amber Alert failures
- [21:14] — Family’s struggle for law enforcement response
- [31:05] — Discovery of Ashlyn’s body, immediate aftermath
- [37:49] — The dramatic arrest at the sweat lodge
- [42:25] — Ashlyn’s impact and Amber Alert reform law
- [47:12] — Emily Pike’s background
- [53:59] — Emily’s final disappearance, systemic lapses
- [56:02] — Recovery of Emily’s remains, community movement
- [59:55] — The data/practical failures in tracking missing Indigenous persons
- [62:54] — Names of missing Indigenous youth from Arizona and New Mexico
Closing Reflection
Courtney and Colin’s closing thoughts emphasize the ongoing urgency and sorrow surrounding MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), the need for reform, and the necessity to center the humanity of each victim. They encourage donations to organizations like Not Our Native Daughters and keep the focus on missing persons’ stories that don’t always make headlines. (See [63:41]-[64:25])
“This is a crisis in so many ways and it's so important that we tell these stories. If Emily Pike's family can find the light by bringing these cases out of the darkness, then we owe them all that same respect.”
— Colin ([63:41])
Resource
- Not Our Native Daughters – Indigenous survivor-run organization supporting families and advocating for justice.