FILE - Images of victims of unsolved cases. (FBI)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has established a minimum reward of $25,000 in cases where people went missing or were killed in Indian Country, part of a broader effort to address high rates of violence affecting Native American communities.
Dozens of unsolved cases
Dig deeper:
The new reward amount is being offered for more than 50 unsolved homicides and missing-persons cases in tribal communities.
Most of the cases are less than 10 years old, though a dozen have been unsolved for more than two decades, according to The Associated Press.
The FBI cited several cases in its recent announcement, including that of 8-year-old Maleeka Boone, who it said was likely struck by a vehicle on the Navajo Nation, and San Carlos Apache teenager Emily Pike, whose body was found after she disappeared from an Arizona group home.
By the numbers:
At the end of 2025, the FBI’s National Crime Information Center recorded just under 1,500 active cases involving missing Native Americans, though not all become federal cases.
There isn’t a minimum reward that applies across all FBI cases.
How you can help
What they're saying:
"Voices Not Forgotten is a brand-new initiative that is part of this FBI’s record dedication of resources to Tribal partners who have been left behind far too long," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "The new protocol is designed to raise public awareness as well as create a minimum reward of up to $25,000 for all publicly advertised cases involving homicides, kidnappings and missing persons in Indian country—compelling any member of the public with information to come forward and help us bring justice."
What you can do:
Anyone with information can contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
For more information, click here.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from reporting by The Associated Press and an FBI news release. This story was reported from San Jose.