The disappearance and murder of a 14-year-old girl prompted Arizona lawmakers to pass “Emily’s Law,” establishing a new emergency alert for missing Indigenous persons. The Arizona Legislature had been considering a “Turquoise Alert” system when Emily Pike, a San Carlos Apache teen, was found murdered after she was reported missing from a group home in late January. Her case prompted lawmakers to amend the original bill to include minors under the age of 18 and name the legislation in her memory. “We cannot let children go missing without somebody being alerted,” said Rep. Teresa Martinez, the bill’s sponsor. The Arizona measure follows closely on the heels of a “Turquoise Alert” the New Mexico Legislature unanimously passed. The alerts, which function similar to an AMBER Alert, provide a rapid response when an Indigenous person is reported missing and there is evidence of imminent danger. Washington, California, and Colorado have similar alerts
