GLOBE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday that the body that was found in the woods belonged to a missing Native American girl.
The Mesa Police Department confirmed on Friday that the girl was identified as 14-year-old Emily Pike, who was last seen on Jan. 27 near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road.
Deputies said Emily was from the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and the Gila County Sheriff’s Office is leading the homicide investigation.
Authorities called the scene disturbing where they discovered the teen’s body off the U.S. 60, a few miles away from the Jackson Butte Recreation area on Feb. 14.
The sheriff’s office said detectives found a head and torso in large contractor trash bags with the girl’s legs in separate bags.
However, they couldn’t find her arms and hands.
The preliminary autopsy results found the girl had visible face and head trauma.
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