Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"We will no longer be the invisible people in the United States of America. We have worth." — Kimberly Heavyrunner (Testifying before Congress)
"lead after lead wasn't properly followed up on" — Kimberly Heavyrunner (Testifying before Congress)
"the jurisdiction gets muddy in situations like these because you don't just have Blackfeet Law Enforcement. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is involved too." — Britt (Discussing jurisdictional issues)
This episode investigates the disappearance of Ashley Lauren Heavyrunner from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Her sister, Kimberly, initiated a desperate search when Ashley became unreachable, a situation compounded by initial reluctance from local law enforcement to treat her as more than a missing adult. Ashley's last known interactions were a casual message exchange with her sister and a concerning encounter with her father where she stated she "did something," followed by her fleeing her home as a vehicle arrived.
The investigation highlights numerous challenges and potential leads that were mishandled or lost. These include a tip about a woman matching Ashley's description running from a car, the discovery of bloody clothing near Sam McDonald's residence, and a misleading tip about Ashley being held in a hotel with dyed blonde hair, which turned out to be her cousin, T. Systemic issues are a recurring theme, including the underfunding of tribal law enforcement, jurisdictional complexities involving the Bureau of Indian Affairs and potential FBI involvement, and a historical ruling that limits tribal jurisdiction over non-Native individuals.
Despite efforts by Ashley's family to organize searches and raise awareness, crucial evidence like a found sweater and boots were reportedly misplaced by investigators. Further complicating matters, a reporter came forward with a potential sighting of Ashley with Paul Valenzuela, a man with a criminal history and romantic ties to Ashley and her cousin, but this lead was not initially recorded by the FBI. The episode concludes by emphasizing the ongoing struggle for justice, the lack of definitive answers, and the broader epidemic of violence against Indigenous women, with Kimberly Heavyrunner advocating for change before Congress.