On January 15, 2026, 8-year-old Maleeka Boone vanished from the Coalmine NHA housing area on Cedar Loop in Coalmine, Arizona, within the Navajo Nation, prompting a Turquoise Alert for the endangered Native American child. She was last seen around 6 p.m. on foot, wearing a red jacket, blue jeans, and cowboy boots; described as 4’5″, 50 lbs., with brown eyes and long brown hair in French braids. Authorities noted her prolonged absence was out of character, sparking urgent community concern.
Search Efforts
A multi-agency response mobilized on January 16, including the Navajo Police Department, FBI, Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation, Arizona Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and local volunteers with organized briefings. Despite extensive ground searches, Boone was found dead that day, though details on location and cause remain undisclosed pending investigation.
Ongoing Investigation
The Navajo Police announced her death via Facebook on January 16, initiating a joint probe with the FBI and NDCI; the Coalmine area entered lockdown to facilitate inquiries, with an FBI command post established. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren called the loss devastating in a public statement. Tips are sought via FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, or Navajo Police Tuba City at 928-283-3111/3112.
This case underscores persistent challenges with missing Indigenous persons, as highlighted by Arizona’s Turquoise Alert system under “Emily’s Law,” aimed at addressing high disappearance rates in Native communities.
