Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State Division Of Criminal Investigation To Assist With Not Afraid Investigation

About a hundred people celebrated the life of Selena Not Afraid on Jan. 21, 2020.
Olivia Reingold
/
Yellowstone Public Radio
About a hundred people celebrated the life of Selena Not Afraid on Jan. 21, 2020.

The sheriff leading an investigation into a 16-year-old Crow girl’s disappearance and death has requested assistance from the state Division of Criminal Investigation.

Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair contacted the state Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting assistance in Selena Not Afraid’s case Tuesday morning. This comes a week after Crow Nation Chairman AJ Not Afraid requested the justice department’s involvement in the case.

The Division of Criminal Investigation, which falls under the state DOJ, has agreed to review investigative materials and evidence. DCI Administrator Bryan Lockerby wrote in a statement external reviews often assist local agencies with ongoing investigations and provide direction for a future course of action.

Yellowstone Public Radio News spoke with Not Afraid’s grandmother Francine Amyotte a day ahead of the announcement. She said she wanted DCI to take over the investigation because the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t made any arrests.

"Selena is a person, at one time. And they treated her like, just some missing girl. I don’t trust them anymore," Amyotte said.

Amyotte says she’s hired a private investigator to look into Not Afraid’s death and disappearance.

Copyright 2020 Yellowstone Public Radio

Olivia Reingold is the Tribal Issues Correspondent for Yellowstone Public Radio. She was previously a producer for Georgia Public Broadcasting and participated in the NPR program, “Next Generation Radio.” She graduated from Columbia Journalism School, where she reported on opioids and the 12-step recovery program, Narcotics Anonymous. She’s from Washington D.C. and is particularly interested in covering addiction. She likes to sew, just don’t ask her to follow a pattern.
Become a sustaining member for as low as $5/month
Make an annual or one-time donation to support MTPR
Pay an existing pledge or update your payment information
Related Content