LOCAL NEWS

Utah ranked in the top 10 states for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls cases

Jan 28, 2022, 10:28 AM | Updated: Jun 8, 2022, 5:52 pm

FILE: Rep. Angela Romero, D-SLC. (KSL-TV)...

FILE: Rep. Angela Romero, D-SLC. (KSL-TV)

(KSL-TV)

SALT LAKE CITY — In a national study, Utah and Salt Lake City both ranked in the top 10 of states and cities for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls cases. Nearly 6,000 indigenous women have gone missing since 2016, but the Department of Justice missing persons database only shows 116 such cases. On top of that, Indigenous women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than all other ethnicities, according to the National Institute of Justice.

Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, and a bipartisan task force hope to combat this issue in Utah.

“Native women and girls go missing all the time and they don’t get the same attention,” Romero said.

Following the worldwide headlines around Gabby Petito, Representative Angela Romero says a larger conversation was started around how missing people cases are handled; including indigenous women. According to the U.S. Justice Department, on some reservations, these women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average.

“Put a spotlight on this epidemic. It is happening across the country,” Romero said.

The task force is asking for a one-time allocation of $130,000 for the next two years. The goal is to travel to all nine recognized tribal communities in Utah — and to research where and how we can make improvements to prevent violence towards indigenous women and girls.

“A lot of complications when collecting data so we want to make sure it is being collected correctly,” Romero said.

A lack of data is a problem right now. Sometimes these cases are reported or classified incorrectly due to jurisdiction issues.
Romero said they are also in conversations with law enforcement leaders on how they can come up with solutions to the jurisdiction issues with some investigations.

“That is why this study is needed so we can figure out what we can do here at the state level,” Romero said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

5 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

5 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

6 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

8 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

8 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Utah ranked in the top 10 states for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls cases