A mother is remembering her late teenage daughter as a “very happy and kind” soul, following the recent discovery of her remains in Arizona.
On February 27, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office reported on Facebook that the remains of an unidentified female were found on February 14 near Highway 60, specifically at Mile post 277 on Forest Service Road.
Soon after, a partnership between the GCSO and the San Carlos Apache Tribe led to the identification of the remains as belonging to a girl who had been reported missing by the Mesa Police Department. The police later updated a social media post to confirm that the 14-year-old, Emily Pike, had been found deceased, and that the investigation was ongoing.
According to officials, Emily was last seen on January 27 at 7:45 PM, wearing a pink and gray shirt, after leaving her group home on foot near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road.
In an emotional interview with a local news station, her mother, Steff Dosela, described Emily as a girl with a passion for painting and art, who dreamed of pursuing the arts in college. She expressed her heartbreak, revealing that she learned about Emily’s disappearance a week after it occurred when her case manager finally informed her.
Emily’s family resides on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, but at the time of her disappearance, she was living in a group home in Mesa.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office has been cooperating with other law enforcement agencies to gather information and evidence related to the case. They have urged anyone with information to contact them or the San Carlos Apache Tribal Police.
“This is an active homicide investigation,” the sheriff’s office stated, extending condolences to Emily’s family and friends.
Details have emerged about the circumstances surrounding her remains, which were unfortunately found in large trash bags. A preliminary autopsy indicated there was trauma to her head and face, but detectives are still working to understand what happened.
Emily’s mother received a DNA test as part of the identification process and reflected on her pain, saying, “She was just an innocent. It’s a pain that I hope no other mother would go through.” Though police are aware of three suspects, their identities have not been revealed as the investigation continues.
Emily’s story has sparked community support, with foster care advocates planning to honor her by tying yellow ribbons around poles at the location where she was last seen. An advocate mentioned that the staff at her group home are deeply affected by her loss and emphasized how much her family loves her, expressing a desire for closure.
