Murdered Girl – Group Home Negligence?

Daily Report April 30,2025

Emily Pike’s tragic disappearance and murder uncovers uncomfortable truths about group home negligence, raising serious questions about accountability and reform.

At a Glance

Emily Pike vanished from a Mesa group home and was later found murdered.
The family has filed a lawsuit against the group home for negligence.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe supports the investigation and seeks stricter regulation.
A reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.

The Disappearance and Murder of Emily Pike

Emily Pike, a vulnerable 14-year-old, disappeared from a Mesa group home on January 27. Her dismembered body was discovered weeks later, 100 miles from where she went missing, turning a missing person case into a chilling homicide investigation. Emily, who struggled with mental health issues, had run away from the home before, expressing a desperate desire not to return. The Saga highlights how failed safety protocols can have catastrophic consequences.

Watch coverage here.

Emily had been living at the group home while under the supervision of a case manager from the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Her past attempts to flee indicate systemic failures within the system meant to protect her. Investigations by the Mesa Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs highlight the serious attention being given to this tragic case.

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Lawsuit Filed Against the Group Home

Emily’s family, devastated by her murder, has sued the Mesa group home for negligence, accusing it of failing to follow proper safety protocols. The group home, which had reportedly seen 30 children go missing in the past three years, faces accusations of failing to protect Emily and other residents adequately. “Did the group home follow all the rules and regulations that were supposed to be followed? And could this have been prevented ultimately, is a big question,” stated Olivia Lemorrocco.

“Did the group home follow all the rules and regulations that were supposed to be followed? And could this have been prevented ultimately, is a big question” – Olivia Lemorrocco.

The ongoing lawsuit strives to bring justice for Emily and compel reforms to protect other children. By forcing group homes to enhance their safety measures, the lawsuit could lead to necessary policy updates and improve accountability.

Tribal and Community Support

The San Carlos Apache Tribe plays a crucial role, offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, creating a tip portal, and urging the passage of House Bill 2281. Their advocacy focuses on stricter regulations for residential group homes and a new alert system for missing indigenous people. This case not only calls for justice for Emily but highlights broader issues within Native American communities regarding violence and systemic negligence.

“Emily was a spark and she definitely sparked the world and now the world is on fire because of Emily” – April Victor, Emily’s aunt.

A march is scheduled to raise awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people. As the family seeks justice for Emily, their fight could instigate much-needed changes in the group home industry and improve safety and oversight across the board.