Staffing problems stall federal investigations of missing and killed Native people

Peter Martin went missing two years ago from the Fond Du Lac reservation in Minnesota. His family has tirelessly searched for their loved one but claim the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs investigation into his disappearance has frozen since the agent handling the case departed in early 2025. The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit was established in 2021 to tackle the issue of violence against Native Americans and allocate additional resources to resolve cold cases.

However, a recent federal audit revealed staffing shortages within the unit, leading to a backlog of cases and a lack of proper victim services for families.

Between 2021 and 2024, federal spending on the initiative increased from $12 million to $17 million. Yet, the audit discovered that 39% of the funds were diverted to other Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement expenses, such as upgrading vehicles. Furthermore, nearly half of the unit's positions remained unfilled as of the previous year, despite the Bureau of Indian Affairs experiencing a third of its workforce reduction due to staff cuts under the Trump administration.

The bureau asserts that it has incorporated many of the audit's recommendations, such as refining its case referral pipeline and educating staff on victim services requirements. However, federal auditors maintain that weaknesses in the hiring process persist. Some families continue to remain unaware of their loved ones' cases. David Adams, an Albuquerque-based attorney, former federal prosecutor, and member of the Sault Ste.

Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, expressed deep concern about the inadequate response to these situations.

One case highlighted in the audit involves Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, whose body was discovered in 2019. Her aunt, Grace Bulltail, recounted how the assigned BIA agent was difficult to contact and provided minimal updates. Last year, Bulltail learned that the agent had no access to the files of local investigators before being reassigned. The Associated Press reached out to bureau officials for comment on this case.