New Task Force Launched to Solve Cold Cases of Missing Indigenous People

URGENT UPDATE: A new task force in Sacramento aims to tackle the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) in California, which has the fifth-highest number of such cases in the U.S. This initiative was just announced and seeks to bring justice to families like that of Khadijah Britton, a 23-year-old member of the Round Valley Tribes who was kidnapped on February 8, 2018, from Covelo, California.

Khadijah’s case is emblematic of a much larger issue. Authorities report that her ex-boyfriend, Negie Fallis, is a person of interest, yet no charges have been filed against him. “There’s violence, people stalking each other, and you’ve just got to watch your back,” said Lydia Hostler, Khadijah’s grandmother. The community’s silence is palpable, with her grandfather, Ronnie Hostler, stating, “They all know him, and nothing. She’s still missing, even though all those resources know what he did.”

The newly formed task force is spearheaded by Jesus Tarango, Chairman of the Wilton Rancheria. “We’ve known about MMIP ever since contact. It’s been happening to our people since that first contact,” Tarango emphasized. The task force will include the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, led by Thien Ho, who aims to bridge the longstanding distrust between tribal communities and law enforcement. “We have dedicated an attorney, an investigator, and a victim advocate,” Ho said.

In an effort to solve these cold cases, the DA’s office will utilize state-of-the-art DNA technology from their crime lab. Ho added, “Science always remembers and it never forgets,” highlighting the hope that advanced forensic techniques could finally uncover crucial evidence in long-unsolved cases.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper has also joined the task force, bringing decades of experience from his team of homicide detectives. “Here, we can come together for a common cause and try to solve some of these old cases. Some are 10, 20, even 30 years old,” Cooper stated.

Khadijah’s disappearance has left a lasting impact on the Covelo community, where her image is displayed on buildings and banners. A tree adorned with red dresses outside Covelo serves as a haunting reminder of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, many of whom remain unaccounted for. “I want justice. That’s my main goal now,” said her grandfather, expressing his desperation as time continues to pass.

Each year, at least 20 MMIP cases are reported in Northern California, but experts believe the actual number is significantly higher due to reporting limitations. Disturbingly, statistics show that 84% of Native American women and 82% of Native American men will experience some form of violence in their lifetime. A 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice revealed that over four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have faced violence, including sexual assault.

The MMIP crisis is exacerbated by the fact that cases involving Indigenous people are at least seven times less likely to be solved than those involving other demographics. Alarmingly, Native women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average.

In response to this ongoing tragedy, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several bills aimed at addressing the MMIP crisis. Local advocates hope that the establishment of this task force will result in tangible action and renewed efforts to bring closure to families like that of Khadijah Britton.

As this story develops, the community and advocates are urged to remain vigilant and support the task force in its critical mission to solve these heartbreaking cases.