Emily Pike: Family pushes for change to Arizona's Turquoise Alert system

Memorial held for unsolved San Carlos Apache teen's murder

On what would have been her 16th birthday, a community is honoring Emily Pike, the teen whose dismembered body was found near Globe last year. FOX 10's Jacob Luthi learns more on how her family is honoring her and pushing for changes to the law that bears her name. 

MESA, Ariz. - Emily Pike, the San Carlos Apache teenager whose dismembered body was dumped near Globe last year, would have turned 16 on Saturday. As the search for her killer continues, her family is calling for changes to the law that bears her name. 

What we know:

A memorial was held at the corner of McKellips Road and Mesa Drive in Mesa.

"She is not alone. She is not alone in all of this," Jared Marquez, an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, who is close to Pike's family said. "How it all came about, unite as a nation, you know, united all nations, you know, and not just Native Americans, but, you know, people from all across the world, you know, say her name."

The then 14-year-old was found dead near U.S. 60 outside Globe in February 2025. A month prior, she was last seen alive walking away from a Mesa group home. 

"This young girl had a life, had love, and it was cut short," Marquez said. 

Her death has sparked real change across Arizona. It inspired "Emily’s Law," creating the Turquoise Alert to bridge the critical gap between a standard missing persons report and an Amber Alert.

Dig deeper:

Advocates say the  Turquoise Alert system has been extremely important, but underutilized, because of its restrictive criteria and lack of training for law enforcement. 

"It's hard because this young woman would have never met any of the criteria that would have gotten her alert, you know, but then there's multiple failures on many levels," Marquez said.

Senate Bill 1740, a bill amending Emily's Law, would require comprehensive training and resources for law enforcement agencies across Arizona, helping officers respond more effectively to missing persons cases.

The backstory:

Earlier this year, Senate Bill 1125 was signed into law. Sparked directly by the failures in Emily’s case, this bipartisan measure closes dangerous loopholes. It forces DCS and tribal governments to share information and communicate.

What you can do:

A $200,000 reward is still being offered for anyone who can help solve her case. 

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$200,000 reward offered in Emily Pike murder case as Mesa vigil marks one year

It's been nearly one year since Emily Pike disappeared from a Mesa group home. On Jan. 25, the community gathered at the site where she was last seen alive to light candles and ensure her name is never forgotten.

What's next:

Advocates refuse to let Emily fade from memory. They say keeping her face in the public eye is critical, serving as a constant reminder that her killer is still out there, and her family is still waiting for answers.

"Until justice is served, we want the world to know that this girl's love. So today we come to celebrate her birthday," Marquez said. 

Emily's murder remains unsolved with no arrests made.