By admin 
WHITERIVER, AZ (AZFamily) — Tuesday marks one year since 16-year-old Tia Colelay’s family last heard from her. Her body was found near Knots Landing in Whiteriver on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in November of last year. Her family is still searching for answers.
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“Today is the day that we all lost contact with her last year,” said Eileen Kessay, Tia’s godmother.
Family says updates slowed
Kessay said the last time the family heard from the Bureau of Indian Affairs was in August, when they were told Tia’s case had been transferred to authorities in Washington, D.C., and that they might be waiting years for an update.
“When this all happened, it was like weekly that they would update us and then it was like every two weeks, biweekly, then it went to every month. And then it went to your case got handed over to somebody else,” Kessay said.
In March, the family said they were told there were three persons of interest. As of today, there have not been any arrests or new information.
“We don’t want people to forget who she was,” Kessay said.
Tia was 16 and loved the outdoors, spending time with her family and painting.
“Now that’s where we’re at, just, waiting for something, just some kind of answer to tell us, that we’re not forgotten, that her case is not forgotten,” Kessay said.
Attorney advocates for cases
“When I first heard about Tia, I thought this case was going to be solved immediately,” said Darlene Gomez, an attorney specializing in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives cases.
“It should not be the community that is requesting and searching. That belongs to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI,” Gomez said.
“I think it’s important that people realize that Tia is just like their own child. Tia is a person. She had likes. She had dreams,” Gomez said.
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Federal audit findings
A federal audit into the Bureau’s Missing and Murdered Unit released last month found staffing shortages, unmanageable caseloads and that money intended for the unit was redirected to other law enforcement costs.
The audit says the Bureau had just 44 staff for 65 funded positions.
Tia’s family said it has no specific complaint about her investigation, but they are concerned about the broader failures.
Memorial events planned
With the anniversary of Tia’s murder coming up in November, a memorial dinner will be held as part of Apache culture. Kessay said it is part of a spiritual necessity where her family and those who were there during the burial process are fed. It’s meant to be a ceremony to show they are appreciated.
“The memorial dinner is to basically thank everybody that was there a year ago. It’s kind of like our tradition that we do. We have to feed the people that were there helping us,” Kessay said.
To donate to the three-day memorial dinner, visit the family’s GoFundMe.
A memorial event and walk is also planned for Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. starting from Whiteriver Assembly of God to Time Square. The family asks the community to wear red as part of the MMIW remembrance walk in honor of Tia.
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