Emily Carla Pike, a 14-year-old San Carlos Apache girl, went missing on Jan. 27, 2025, from a Mesa group home.

Her remains were found on Feb. 14, 2025, near Globe, but her case is still unsolved, with no persons of interest identified publicly by the FBI or the Gila County Sheriff’s Office.

Pike’s tragedy sent shockwaves throughout her community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and around the state, prompting large-scale support for raising awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous people and the establishment of a new Turquoise Alert system in Arizona for missing persons to honor and memorialize her life.

3 Takeaways:

• Emily Pike’s temporary memorial has been taken down and a new permanent memorial installed at Fitch Park in Mesa.
• Pike’s life is honored with a red push pistache tree, a granite plaque memorial featuring her likeness and a bench engraved in her honor.
• SRPMIC President Martin Harvier joined other Community leaders and Pike’s family for the unveiling ceremony.

The temporary memorial for Pike on the corner of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road in Mesa (the last place Pike was seen alive) was recently taken down, and a new permanent memorial was installed on March 3 at Fitch Park in Mesa, where Pike frequently played.

City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities staff provided support on planning and installation of the memorial, which was privately funded.

“The City of Mesa extends our deepest condolences to the family of Emily Pike, her loved ones, and the San Carlos Apache community. The city was honored to work with Emily’s family and community members to facilitate the establishment of a permanent memorial in her remembrance,” said Mesa Interim Communications Director Casey Blake.

Fitch Park, nestled along Center and Eighth streets, features ramadas, basketball courts, picnic tables and playgrounds for young kids.

Now, the park has a newly planted red push pistache tree, a granite plaque memorial featuring Pike’s likeness and a bench engraved in her honor. The plaque reads:

Emily Carla Pike

May 16, 2010 – February 14, 2025

Emily, a 14-year-old Apache girl, went missing Jan. 27, 2025, from Mesa, AZ.

She was found deceased on Feb. 14, 2025, near Globe, AZ.

Emily loved art, music, and her family.

Her absence echoes loudly in our communities.

We will honor her legacy and seek justice in her name.

No more stolen sisters.

SRPMIC President Martin Harvier and other tribal leaders joined the Arizona Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations, community advocates and Pike’s family for the memorial’s unveiling ceremony.