A memorial set up in Mesa for slain Arizona teen Emily Pike has been taken down; advocates are now hoping for a permanent placement.
According to Arizona’s ABC 15, the memorial had sat in place months, at the intersection of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, following the discovery of 14-year-old Emily’s remains in February.
Initially, it had been unclear who took the memorial down or why, although the city of Mesa reportedly said its officials did not have anything to do with it.
FOX 10 Mesa reports that the property owner, who chose not to be interviewed on-air, said he removed the memorial because no one had prior permission to place it there. He said he left the items in a bin since he was unsure who to contact about retrieving the items.
Emily’s advocates, who continue to push for answers in the case, feel it’s a way to keep the case in the public eye while honoring her memory.
Some supporters returned to the scene January 2 and added balloons, teddy bears, and garlands.
“They took all her things out of the trash, and they put them back up,” advocate Celeste Bonito-Nash told FOX 10. “This memorial keeps Emily Pike’s name in their mouth. This keeps her alive.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police found some of Emily’s dismembered remains on Valentine’s Day, stuffed in trash bags and left along U.S. 60, northeast of Globe. Some of her remains have never been found.
Emily was last seen alive January 27 near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, after fleeing a group home.
For her safety, social workers removed Emily from her mother’s custody after a family member is said to have sexually assaulted her.
Court documents obtained by FOX 10 indicated that Emily ran away three times in 2023. She told police about her dissatisfaction with life at the group home and pleaded to not return. She reportedly tried to take her own life while at the group home, by tying a shoelace to a doorknob and cutting her wrists.
Following her death, the FBI announced a reward for information leading to any culpable parties.
“The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $75,000 for any person providing independently verifiable information identifying the individual(s) responsible for her disappearance and murder,” FBI spokesperson Kevin Smith said in an email to AZ Central.
The FBI’s announcement on May 7 followed a meeting between FBI Director Kash Patel and Emily’s family, where Patel committed to raising awareness and pursuing answers in her case.
Governor Katie Hobbs announced an additional $25,000 reward in April, during a ceremonial bill signing for Emily’s Law, which will create a “turquoise alert” system for missing Indigenous people.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is also offering a $75,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
A task force was formed shortly after the tribe offered the reward.
To assist in the investigation, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and the San Carlos Apache Police Department have set up an online tip portal where anonymous tips can be submitted through tips411.
Information can also be reported to the Sheriff’s Office at 928-425-4449, option 1, or the San Carlos Apache Police Department at 928-475-1700.
Meanwhile, as Emily’s family hopes the city will consider a permanent memorial, advocate Jared Marquez reminded the public of how authorities found her remains.
“Think about this case specifically and how she was left in trash bags and all that,” Jared Marquez said.
“It’s one thing to clean up and remove the whole thing. But you left it in a trash can, so her picture can be seen, so her stuff can be seen, to let the community know that her memorial is not wanted.”
Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Emily Pike/Handout]