A mother is remembering her late teenage daughter as “very happy and kind,” days after authorities discovered and identified her remains in Arizona.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office shared a news release on Facebookannouncing that the remains of an “unidentified female” were discovered on Feb. 14 off the Hwy 60 N. Mile post 277 on Forest Service Road.
Within days, an investigation between the GCSO and San Carlos Apache Tribe identified that the remains belonged to a child previously reported missing by the Mesa Police Department (MPD), per the news release.
The MPD later updated a missing-person flyer on social media for 14-year-old Emily Pike, noting that the teen was “located deceased” and the GCSO was “actively investigating.”
Per the police department, Pike was wearing a pink and gray shirt when she was last seen on Jan. 27 at 7:45 pm local time, having “left her residence on foot” near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road.
Speaking with local CBS affiliate KPHO, her mom, Steff Dosela, called Emily “a very happy and kind person” who loved painting, art and drawing and was hoping to pursue the arts in college.”
Her family lives on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, but, at the time she went missing, Emily was staying at a group home in Mesa, she added to the outlet.
“Her case manager finally came a week later to tell me she was missing,” Dosela told KPHO.
Emily Pike.
Mesa Police Department
In the news release posted on Facebook, GCSO said that it was “working with several law enforcement agencies to investigate all information and evidence.” Those with information pertaining to the investigation are encouraged to contact Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the San Carlos Apache Tribal Police.
“This is an active homicide investigation,” the GCSO wrote. “Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd would like to send our condolences from the Sheriff’s Office to the family and friends of the young female.”
According to a previous post from the GCSO, uploaded to Facebook on Feb. 26, information that was “only intended for” law enforcement was leaked to the platform, despite authorities deciding that “further information needed to be investigated” before making a public statement.
Per KPHO, the victim’s remains were discovered in large contractor trash bags. Detectives were unable to find her legs and hands, while a preliminary autopsy found visible face and head trauma.
The GCSO and MPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further information on Sunday, March 2.
Dosela revealed that detectives gave her a DNA test to identify her daughter, per KPHO.
“Why did it go that far? She was just an innocent… she was a baby. [It’s a] pain that I hope no other mother would go through,” she said, according to the outlet.
The mother also reportedly told the outlet that authorities had “three suspects,” but she did not know their identities at the time. Authorities have not released any information regarding potential suspects as the investigation remains ongoing.
“You’ll never be forgotten. I love you,” Dosela said of her daughter, KPHO reported. “Until we meet again, rest in peace.”
Mesa Police claimed Pike had a history of running away as authorities continue their investigation into what happened following her disappearance, per KPHO.
Foster care advocates have planned to wrap yellow ribbons around street poles near where Pike was last seen alive to honor her on March 2, according to KPHO.
Anika Robinson, whose nonprofit began serving the teen in 2023, told the outlet that she knows the “staff and the girls in her home are suffering greatly” following the loss.
“I think for any child who has been placed outside of their home and wishes to return home, we see this so often where they are fleeing. They are leaving. They want some sense of independence,” Robinson said. “Her family loves her, her extended family loves her and we want closure.”
