Operation Not Forgotten Brings New Hope to Cold Cases

Operation Not Forgotten is Giving Families Hope

Across tribal lands and rural reservations in the American Southwest, a powerful wave of investigative momentum is sweeping through cold cases that have gone unresolved for years. For Indigenous families who have long waited for justice, a new federal initiative called Operation Not Forgotten is delivering long-awaited progress. This program—coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and tribal law-enforcement agencies—is breathing new life into cases that were once considered unsolvable.

One of the most significant breakthroughs tied to Operation Not Forgotten is the renewed movement in the murder investigation of 23-year-old Zachariah Juwaun Shorty. For years, his mother, Vangie Randall-Shorty, carried the painful burden of unanswered questions. She sought information, pressed investigators, and refused to let her son’s case fade from memory. Recently, her determination was validated: three individuals have been indicted in connection with her son’s death. It is a moment shaped by grief, relief, and above all—justice in motion. “My baby’s gone,” she said through tears. “This is what I’ve been fighting for.”

The Shorty case is one of many receiving renewed investigative pressure thanks to Operation Not Forgotten. The initiative brought 64 FBI agents to the Southwest over a six-month period, focusing exclusively on unresolved cases involving Indigenous victims. This surge allowed investigators to re-examine evidence, re-interview witnesses, and apply strengthened forensic and digital analysis techniques—tools often out of reach for local or tribal agencies stretched thin by geography, jurisdictional limits, and chronic underfunding.

Why Operation Not Forgotten Matters

For generations, Indigenous communities have endured disproportionately high rates of missing and murdered persons cases, many of which stalled due to a lack of resources or the complexities of investigating crimes on tribal land. Operation Not Forgotten aims to address these barriers by supporting tribal agencies with both federal manpower and modern tools.

Jurisdictional complexity often slows or entirely halts investigations in Indian Country. Crimes may involve tribal, state, or federal authority depending on specifics of the case. Meanwhile, tribal law-enforcement agencies frequently operate with limited staff, limited budgets, and vast territories to patrol. When a case goes cold, families can feel forgotten by a system that already struggles to keep up.

Operation Not Forgotten helps bridge these gaps—offering collaboration, coordination, and investigative expertise that many communities have long needed.

Inside the Shorty Case

In July 2020, Zachariah Juwaun Shorty went missing from the Navajo Nation. Four days later, his body was discovered about 15 miles outside Farmington, New Mexico. For years, the case moved slowly, weighed down by scarce leads and limited investigative capacity. But when Operation Not Forgotten deployed additional personnel to review cold cases, investigators began re-examining phone data, social-media footprints, hotel surveillance videos, and witness statements with fresh eyes.

According to investigators, this renewed and concentrated effort led them to new leads and ultimately to three suspects now facing federal charges. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison underscored the gravity of the moment by reminding the public of the human cost behind the case: “He’s a son, he’s a father, he’s a brother. He’s going to be an empty seat at the Thanksgiving table this week.”

During the announcement, Zachariah’s mother played her son’s music—a symbolic gesture that honored his life and reminded everyone that behind every case file is a person whose story deserves justice. Her son had turned to music to cope with the grief of losing his older brother. Now, that music echoes as a reminder of a life cut short.

A Model for Change?

The layered structure of Operation Not Forgotten allows for something rare in cold-case investigations: concentrated time, personnel, and technology applied across multiple jurisdictions. The approach includes:

• Fresh personnel with cold-case experience
• Modern digital tools to re-analyze old evidence
• Close collaboration between tribal, federal, and state agencies
• Renewed witness outreach and community engagement
• Review of phone records, social media, and surveillance footage

This model demonstrates that cases once believed unsolvable may only need sustained attention and modern techniques to show new life.

However, questions remain about the long-term future of the initiative. Because Operation Not Forgotten was a temporary deployment, families and advocates are concerned about what happens once the extra agents leave. Will future cold cases return to the backlog? Will tribal agencies receive the permanent resources they need?

Despite uncertainties, the early results are encouraging. Families who have waited years are finally seeing movement. Communities that felt overlooked now see progress. And investigators are discovering how much can be achieved when multiple agencies commit to a unified mission.

The Broader Impact

Operation Not Forgotten stands as a reminder of the widespread issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP). The crisis has deep roots, shaped by decades of systemic neglect and lack of resources. While the recent indictments in the Shorty case are a major step forward, they highlight a much larger need for long-term support, funding, and collaborative investigative frameworks.

Every case represents a family grieving, hoping, and advocating. Many relatives express similar fears: that their loved one will be forgotten or that the system will give up on them. Initiatives like Operation Not Forgotten provide a pathway toward rebuilding trust and creating meaningful change.

A Step Toward Justice

For Zachariah Shorty’s family, the indictments are not the end of their journey—but they are a crucial step toward closure. For many other Indigenous families, the program serves as a reminder that justice can still be found, even years after a case has gone cold.

Operation Not Forgotten is more than a task force. For countless families across Indian Country, it is a sign of hope. It is an acknowledgment that their loved ones matter. And it is proof that justice delayed does not have to be justice denied.

The initiative shows what can happen when federal, tribal, and community partners unite with purpose and determination. As long as these partnerships continue, and as long as cold cases receive the attention they deserve, families can hold onto something they have long been denied—answers.