Topline: Challistia Colelay’s death intensifies national attention on the high homicide rates affecting Indigenous women and girls.
Published: November 15, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Challista Colelay (via GoFundMe)
WHITERIVER, AZ — A missing 16-year-old White Mountain Apache girl was found dead on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, officials are treating her death as a homicide.
Challistia Colelay was last seen Oct. 27 near her home in Whiteriver, according to the White Mountain Apache Police Department. Her body was discovered less than a mile from her family’s residence.
Police did not release details about the cause of death or who found her. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is leading the homicide investigation in coordination with tribal police, FOX 10 reported.
Colelay was reported missing Oct. 27. Family members and community volunteers joined tribal officers in search efforts during the week she was gone. Police issued public appeals for information before her body was found.
Investigators are working to trace Colelay’s movements between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. No suspects have been identified, and officials said they are withholding details to protect the integrity of the case.
Her death highlights the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, or MMIWR. Federal statistics show homicide rates among Indigenous women and girls are significantly higher than the national average.
“It breaks my heart because this goes on far too often,” attorney and MMIWR activist Darlene Gomez told AZFamily. She said the case underscores the need for stronger police training and clear policies for handling missing children, especially runaways.
Colelay’s family described her as the “baby of the family.” She was one of 12 siblings, according to a GoFundMe page created by relatives. Her sister wrote that she was known as “Baby girl” or “Tia girl,” and remembered her as outgoing, funny and cheerful.
She enjoyed painting, drawing and crafting, and loved spending time outdoors camping, fishing and driving back roads with her family.
The Fort Apache Reservation spans more than 1.6 million acres in east-central Arizona, with terrain of mountains, pine forests and streams. Tribal leaders and law enforcement continue to work closely with the family as the investigation proceeds.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to Colelay’s death to contact the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) Hotline by phone at 1-833-560-2065, by email at OJS_MMU@bia.gov, or by texting the keyword BIAMMU and your tip to 847411.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Indigenous Teen Found Dead on Fort Apache Reservation; Homicide Investigation Launched
Challistia Colelay’s death intensifies national attention on the high homicide rates affecting Indigenous women and girls.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 15, 2025 8:00 am ET
Challista Colelay (via GoFundMe)
WHITERIVER, AZ — A missing 16-year-old White Mountain Apache girl was found dead on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, officials are treating her death as a homicide.
Challistia Colelay was last seen Oct. 27 near her home in Whiteriver, according to the White Mountain Apache Police Department. Her body was discovered less than a mile from her family’s residence.
Police did not release details about the cause of death or who found her. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is leading the homicide investigation in coordination with tribal police, FOX 10 reported.
Colelay was reported missing Oct. 27. Family members and community volunteers joined tribal officers in search efforts during the week she was gone. Police issued public appeals for information before her body was found.
Investigators are working to trace Colelay’s movements between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. No suspects have been identified, and officials said they are withholding details to protect the integrity of the case.
Her death highlights the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, or MMIWR. Federal statistics show homicide rates among Indigenous women and girls are significantly higher than the national average.
“It breaks my heart because this goes on far too often,” attorney and MMIWR activist Darlene Gomez told AZFamily. She said the case underscores the need for stronger police training and clear policies for handling missing children, especially runaways.
Colelay’s family described her as the “baby of the family.” She was one of 12 siblings, according to a GoFundMe page created by relatives. Her sister wrote that she was known as “Baby girl” or “Tia girl,” and remembered her as outgoing, funny and cheerful.
She enjoyed painting, drawing and crafting, and loved spending time outdoors camping, fishing and driving back roads with her family.
The Fort Apache Reservation spans more than 1.6 million acres in east-central Arizona, with terrain of mountains, pine forests and streams. Tribal leaders and law enforcement continue to work closely with the family as the investigation proceeds.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to Colelay’s death to contact the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) Hotline by phone at 1-833-560-2065, by email at OJS_MMU@bia.gov, or by texting the keyword BIAMMU and your tip to 847411.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Indigenous Teen Found Dead on Fort Apache Reservation; Homicide Investigation Launched
Challistia Colelay’s death intensifies national attention on the high homicide rates affecting Indigenous women and girls.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 15, 2025 8:00 am ET
Challista Colelay (via GoFundMe)
WHITERIVER, AZ — A missing 16-year-old White Mountain Apache girl was found dead on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, officials are treating her death as a homicide.
Challistia Colelay was last seen Oct. 27 near her home in Whiteriver, according to the White Mountain Apache Police Department. Her body was discovered less than a mile from her family’s residence.
Police did not release details about the cause of death or who found her. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is leading the homicide investigation in coordination with tribal police, FOX 10 reported.
Colelay was reported missing Oct. 27. Family members and community volunteers joined tribal officers in search efforts during the week she was gone. Police issued public appeals for information before her body was found.
Investigators are working to trace Colelay’s movements between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. No suspects have been identified, and officials said they are withholding details to protect the integrity of the case.
Her death highlights the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, or MMIWR. Federal statistics show homicide rates among Indigenous women and girls are significantly higher than the national average.
“It breaks my heart because this goes on far too often,” attorney and MMIWR activist Darlene Gomez told AZFamily. She said the case underscores the need for stronger police training and clear policies for handling missing children, especially runaways.
Colelay’s family described her as the “baby of the family.” She was one of 12 siblings, according to a GoFundMe page created by relatives. Her sister wrote that she was known as “Baby girl” or “Tia girl,” and remembered her as outgoing, funny and cheerful.
She enjoyed painting, drawing and crafting, and loved spending time outdoors camping, fishing and driving back roads with her family.
The Fort Apache Reservation spans more than 1.6 million acres in east-central Arizona, with terrain of mountains, pine forests and streams. Tribal leaders and law enforcement continue to work closely with the family as the investigation proceeds.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to Colelay’s death to contact the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) Hotline by phone at 1-833-560-2065, by email at OJS_MMU@bia.gov, or by texting the keyword BIAMMU and your tip to 847411.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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