California has fifth-highest number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in U.S.
TO LOWER 50S. BACK OVER TO YOU, DIRK. THANK YOU. NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN KCRA 3 IS HIGHLIGHTING THE EPIDEMIC OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. KCRA 3’S ANDREA FLORES JOINS US TO SHOW US THE NEW TASK FORCE HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT’S WORKING TO SOLVE THESE COLD CASES. RIGHT, ANDREA? THAT’S RIGHT. LISA. CALIFORNIA HAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT’S A SILENT CRISIS IN MANY TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. BUT THIS NEW TASK FORCE STARTED HERE IN SACRAMENTO IS HOPING TO PUT AN END TO THIS DISTURBING TREND. SO I RECENTLY TRAVELED TO THE ROUND VALLEY RESERVATION IN MENDOCINO COUNTY TO MEET WITH THE GRANDPARENTS OF KADIJAH BRITTON. THE 23 YEAR OLD WAS LAST SEEN BEING FORCED INTO A HOME AT GUNPOINT BACK IN 2018. WE WENT BACK TO THE TRIBAL LAND TO TRY AND GET SOME ANSWERS ABOUT HER KIDNAPING HER, FAMILY SAYS THE MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSONS TASK FORCE MAY BE THE KEY TO SOLVING HER CASE. WILTON RANCHERIA CHAIRMAN JESUS TARANGO, SACRAMENTO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TEN HO AND SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF JIM COOPER ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO PUT AN END TO THE VIOLENCE. THEY ALL KNOW HIM. NOTHING. SHE’S STILL MISSING, EVEN THOUGH ALL THOSE RESOURCES KNOW WHAT HE DID. WE’VE KNOWN ABOUT HIM EVER SINCE CONTACT. IT’S BEEN HAPPENING TO OUR PEOPLE EVER SINCE THAT FIRST CONTACT. THE EXPLOITATION OF OUR WOMEN AND OUR AND OUR MEN, BOYS AND GIRLS. WHEN I SEE THE HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY IN TERMS OF THE DISTRUST BETWEEN TRIBAL PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, I WANT TO BRIDGE THAT GAP SO WE CAN COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE AND TRY AND SOLVE SOME OF THESE OLD CASES, AND SOME OF THEM ARE TEN, 20, 30 YEARS OLD, AT LEAST 20 CASES ARE RECORDED EVERY YEAR IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT DUE TO LIMITATIONS IN REPORTING, THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS SUSPECTED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. COMING UP TONIGHT ON KCRA THREE NEWS AT 11, WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS COLD CASE CRISIS AND HOW THE EMILIE TASK FORCE PLANS TO USE DNA TECHNOLOGY. EXPERIENCED HOMICIDE
California has fifth-highest number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in U.S.
Updated: 4:52 PM PST Nov 6, 2025
An often hidden crisis is affecting Native Americans across the country, including in California. The state has the fifth-highest number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in the nation.A study from the National Institute of Justice found that more than 84% of Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and 56% have experienced sexual violence. Around 82% of Native American men will also experience violence in their lifetime.A new task force in Sacramento is hoping to address the crisis and solve more of the MMIP cold cases.On KCRA 3 at 11, learn more about the task force and the case of 23-year-old Khadijah Britton, a member of the Round Valley Tribes who was kidnapped in 2018.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
An often hidden crisis is affecting Native Americans across the country, including in California. The state has the fifth-highest number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases in the nation.
A study from the National Institute of Justice found that more than 84% of Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and 56% have experienced sexual violence. Around 82% of Native American men will also experience violence in their lifetime.
A new task force in Sacramento is hoping to address the crisis and solve more of the MMIP cold cases.
On KCRA 3 at 11, learn more about the task force and the case of 23-year-old Khadijah Britton, a member of the Round Valley Tribes who was kidnapped in 2018.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel