Sacramento’s Groundbreaking Task Force Takes on California’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis
MMIP Cases are Becoming More Visible.
Sacramento’s Groundbreaking Task Force Takes on California’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis
In the heart of California’s capital, a revolutionary approach to addressing one of America’s most overlooked crises is taking shape. The Sacramento Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Task Force represents the first initiative of its kind in California, bringing together law enforcement agencies, tribal leaders, and community advocates in an unprecedented collaboration to solve cold cases and bring justice to indigenous families who have waited far too long.
The statistics paint a grim picture that has persisted for generations. California ranks fifth in the nation for the highest number of missing and murdered indigenous people cases, with at least 20 new cases recorded annually in Northern California alone. However, experts believe the actual number is significantly higher due to chronic underreporting and systemic failures in tracking these cases. The crisis extends beyond missing persons – it encompasses a broader epidemic of violence against indigenous communities that has roots stretching back to the first contact between European settlers and Native Americans.
A Personal Tragedy That Sparked Action
The story of Khadijah Britton embodies both the personal tragedy and systemic failure that the task force aims to address. On February 8, 2018, the 23-year-old member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes was kidnapped from the small town of Covelo in Mendocino County. According to investigators, she was last seen being forced into a car at gunpoint outside a home in the tight-knit community.
Nearly eight years later, Khadijah’s disappearance remains unsolved. Her ex-boyfriend, Negie Fallis, is considered a person of interest by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, yet he has not been charged in connection with her disappearance. For Khadijah’s grandparents, Lydia and Ronnie Hostler, the community’s silence has been deafening.
“They all know him, and nothing,” Ronnie Hostler said, his frustration evident. “She’s still missing, even though all those resources know what he did.” The family’s pain is compounded by the passage of time – Khadijah’s body has never been found, and the investigation has yielded no breakthroughs despite years of searching.
The town of Covelo, nestled in the Round Valley Reservation that has been Yuki territory since time immemorial, bears witness to Khadijah’s absence. Her image appears on buildings and banners throughout the community, serving as both a memorial and a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis. Outside town, a tree adorned with red dresses – a symbol of missing and murdered indigenous women – stands as a haunting monument to Khadijah and countless others still waiting for justice.
A Historic Collaboration Takes Shape
The Sacramento MMIP Task Force emerged from the recognition that addressing this crisis requires unprecedented cooperation between tribal communities and law enforcement agencies. Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango has taken the lead in spearheading this initiative, driven by the understanding that the exploitation and violence against indigenous people didn’t begin recently – it’s a historical pattern that demands a modern response.
“We’ve known about MMIP ever since contact,” Tarango explained. “It’s been happening to our people since that first contact, the exploitation of our women and our men, and boys and girls. This didn’t start last year, this has been going on for a long time.”
The task force brings together key players in California’s criminal justice system. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has committed significant resources, including a dedicated attorney, investigator, and victim advocate. District Attorney Thien Ho emphasized the importance of bridging the historical distrust between tribal communities and law enforcement.
“When I see the history in this country in terms of the distrust between tribal people and law enforcement, I want to bridge that gap,” Ho stated. This commitment extends beyond personnel – the DA’s office is providing access to state-of-the-art DNA technology and crime lab resources, hoping that scientific advances might unlock secrets that have remained buried for decades.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has also joined the effort, contributing homicide detectives with decades of experience in solving complex cases. Sheriff Jim Cooper acknowledged both the opportunity and the challenge ahead. “We’re fortunate here in Sacramento. We have good relationships. I’ll be honest, a lot of jurisdictions have zero relationship,” he admitted. “Here, we can come together for a common cause and try to solve some of these old cases. Some are 10, 20, even 30 years old.”
The Science of Justice
One of the task force’s most promising aspects lies in its access to cutting-edge forensic technology. Sacramento County has become known as “the birthplace of investigative genetic genealogy,” a revolutionary approach that combines traditional DNA analysis with genealogical research to identify suspects through family connections. This technology has already solved numerous cold cases across the country, and task force members hope it can provide similar breakthroughs for indigenous victims.
“Science always remembers and it never forgets,” District Attorney Ho noted, highlighting how DNA evidence can preserve the possibility of justice even when human memory fails or witnesses remain silent. For families who have waited years or decades for answers, this scientific approach offers a new avenue of hope.
The task force’s approach recognizes that solving these cases requires more than just technological solutions. It demands rebuilding trust between indigenous communities and law enforcement agencies that have historically failed to prioritize these cases. Many indigenous families have experienced decades of neglect, dismissive responses, and jurisdictional confusion when seeking help for missing loved ones.
A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
The scope of the MMIP crisis extends far beyond the cases that make headlines. Research by the National Institute of Justice reveals staggering statistics: 84.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, including 56.1% who have experienced sexual violence. These rates are significantly higher than those experienced by women of other racial groups.
The murder rate for Native women exceeds the national average by more than tenfold, yet MMIP cases are solved at rates seven times lower than cases involving victims from other communities. This disparity reflects systemic failures in how law enforcement agencies investigate and prioritize cases involving indigenous victims.
California’s ranking as fifth in the nation for MMIP cases underscores the urgency of the crisis within the state. However, the true scope remains hidden due to limitations in reporting mechanisms, jurisdictional complexities between tribal and non-tribal law enforcement, and historical patterns of undercounting indigenous people in official statistics.
The Weight of Waiting
For families like the Hostlers, the passage of time has become an enemy. “I’m getting more desperate now,” Ronnie Hostler admitted, his voice carrying the weight of nearly eight years of uncertainty. “Time’s not on my side.” This sentiment resonates across indigenous communities, where elders who have spent decades seeking justice for missing family members fear they may not live to see resolution.
The psychological toll on families extends beyond the immediate trauma of loss. Many describe feeling invisible, their loved ones’ disappearances treated as routine rather than as emergencies requiring immediate, comprehensive investigation. The community silence that Khadijah’s grandparents describe reflects a complex web of fear, trauma, and historical mistrust that the task force must navigate.
Building a New Legacy
The Sacramento MMIP Task Force represents more than just a law enforcement initiative – it’s an attempt to create a new model for how society responds to violence against indigenous people. By bringing together tribal leaders, law enforcement agencies, victim advocates, and forensic experts, the task force aims to demonstrate that these cases can be solved when given proper attention and resources.
The initiative arrives at a crucial moment. California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several bills into law specifically addressing the MMIP crisis, signaling growing recognition at the state level of the need for systemic change. These legislative efforts, combined with the task force’s ground-level work, create the possibility for meaningful progress.
However, success will require sustained commitment and resources. The task force must navigate complex jurisdictional issues, as many cases involve both tribal and non-tribal lands. Building trust within indigenous communities will take time, particularly given generations of negative experiences with law enforcement. Each solved case will need to be celebrated as proof that the system can work for indigenous victims and their families.
Looking Forward
As the Sacramento MMIP Task Force begins its work, the eyes of indigenous communities across California and beyond will be watching. For families like Khadijah Britton’s, the task force represents perhaps the last, best hope for finding answers and achieving justice. The red dresses hanging on trees outside Covelo serve as both memorial and motivation – a reminder of what’s at stake and why failure is not an option.
The task force’s success will ultimately be measured not just in solved cases, but in whether it can help transform how society values indigenous lives. By demonstrating that these cases matter enough to warrant the best investigative techniques, the most experienced detectives, and cutting-edge forensic technology, the initiative challenges decades of neglect and indifference.
For Jesus Tarango and other tribal leaders involved in the effort, the task force represents an opportunity to break historical cycles of violence and exploitation. “If not me, then who?” Tarango asked, capturing the sense of responsibility driving this initiative. The answer to that question will determine whether the Sacramento MMIP Task Force becomes a model for other communities or remains an isolated attempt to address a crisis that has persisted for far too long.
As the investigation into Khadijah Britton’s disappearance continues, her image remains visible throughout Covelo – a constant reminder of the work that remains. The Sacramento MMIP Task Force carries the hopes of families across California who have waited years, decades, or even generations for justice. In a state with the fifth-highest number of missing and murdered indigenous people, the success of this initiative could mean the difference between continued crisis and the beginning of real change.
The path ahead is challenging, but for the first time in California’s history, the full weight of law enforcement expertise, scientific advancement, and tribal advocacy is being brought to bear on this crisis. Whether that proves sufficient to solve cases like Khadijah’s remains to be seen, but the effort itself represents a historic step toward justice for California’s indigenous communities.