FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Across the country and in the Central Valley, there are continuing calls for justice and answers in cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and relatives.<\/p>\n
According to FBI data, more than 10,000 missing Native American and Alaska Native entries were made into its database in 2024.<\/p>\n
A case that the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office continues to piece together is the death of 27-year-old Bessie Walker. Investigators continue to look into every possible lead.<\/p>\n
“It is classified as a suspicious death,” said Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. “Something encouraging is that last month, the Bureau of Indian Affairs got involved.”<\/p>\n
Walker’s case, along with many others, was remembered during a vigil held at Fresno State. Families, Central California tribes, and community members gathered to honor Indigenous women, girls and relatives whose cases remain unresolved.<\/p>\n
“Families want that closure,” said Elaine Bethel Fink, the Tribal Chairwoman with the North Fork Rancheria. “They want to keep trying to find out where their people are.”<\/p>\n
In 2023, the CDC reported homicide was the fourth leading cause of death for Native American and Alaskan Native men 1 to 44 years old and the sixth leading cause of death for women in that same group.<\/p>\n
“We see the rates of violence climbing,” said Dr. Leece Lee-Olive, the Director of American Indian Studies at Fresno State. “If somebody calls to say my sister, my mother, my sibling is missing, the response rate is
closer to five days.”<\/p>\n
It’s been nearly five years since Walker went missing and was found dead weeks later, just 25 yards from her mother’s home. The pain of losing Bessie still never goes away for her sister, Rayetta Lara.<\/p>\n
“She was like a free spirit. She was happy. She had a lot of happiness,” said Lara. “No matter what she went through, she was always smiling.”<\/p>\n
Rayetta is still looking for answers while holding onto hope.<\/p>\n
“It’s a struggle every day,” said Rayetta. “It gets harder and harder. I have to reassure myself that we will get justice.”<\/p>\n
People with information in Walker’s case may be eligible for a reward of up to $15,000. Of that, $10,000 is available through Valley Crime Stoppers, while the Bureau of Indian Affairs is offering an additional $5,000.<\/p>\n
People can submit tips to the Bureau of Indian Affairs<\/a> or reach out to Valley Crime Stoppers<\/a>.<\/p>\n For news updates, follow Ana Torrea on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n