Staffing problems stall federal investigations of missing and killed Native people
Federal auditors found 83 open cases and nearly 400 pending referrals as staffing gaps and weak hiring left families without victim services.
- An Interior Department audit released Sept. 9 found the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit faces a backlog of 83 open cases and nearly 400 pending referrals with no defined timeframe for assessment.
- Federal auditors reported that 39% of the unit's funding was redirected toward other BIA law enforcement costs, including vehicle upgrades, while nearly half its posts remained unfilled last year.
- Families like those of Peter Martin, missing for two years from the Fond Du Lac reservation, report being left in the dark as the unit had only two victim specialists nationwide to serve them.
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs stated it has adopted many audit recommendations, including streamlining its case referral pipeline and training staff on victim services requirements to address identified deficiencies.
- University of Kansas School of Law professor Sarah Deer questioned whether federal funding might be better utilized by tribes themselves, noting families have 'often experienced institutional failure already,' while the FBI set a $25,000 minimum reward for cold case information.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Staffing problems stall U.S. investigations of missing and killed Indigenous people
A recent U.S. audit found staffing issues have plagued U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit since its formation, creating a backlog of cases and leaving families without required victim services.
Staffing problems stall federal investigations of missing and killed N
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Peter Martin went missing two years ago from the Fond Du Lac reservation in Minnesota. His family hasn’t stopped looking, but they say the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs investigation into Martin’s
Staffing problems stall federal investigations of missing and killed Native people - Regional Media News
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Peter Martin went missing two years ago from the Fond Du Lac reservation in Minnesota. His family hasn't stopped looking, but they say the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs investigation into Martin's disappearance has stalled since the agent assigned to [...]
Staffing problems stall federal investigations of missing and killed Native people – WTOP News
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Peter Martin went missing two years ago from the Fond Du Lac reservation in Minnesota. His family hasn’t stopped looking, but they say the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs investigation into Martin’s disappearance has stalled since the agent assigned to the case left the role in early 2025. “They’ve never...
Staffing problems stall federal investigations of missing and killed Native people
An audit report of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit released this month reveals staffing challenges, a backlog of hundreds of case referrals and families left without required victims' services
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