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Who Was Selena Not Afraid?
Selena Not Afraid was a 16-year-old girl from Big Horn County, Montana, who went missing on January 1, 2020, after attending a house party with her friends. She was a proud member of the Crow tribe and a junior at Hardin High School. She was described by her family and friends as a lively, outgoing, and ambitious person who had a bright future ahead of her.
How Did Selena Not Afraid Die?
Selena Not Afraid’s body was found on January 20, 2020, about 200 feet away from the rest stop where she was last seen alive. According to the state medical examiner’s office, the cause of her death was hypothermia, and the manner of death was accidental. Hypothermia is a condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, resulting in dangerously low body temperature. Selena was not dressed for the extreme cold weather, and the temperature on the night of her disappearance was below freezing.
Was Selena Not Afraid Killed?
The official autopsy report ruled out any foul play or physical injuries in Selena’s death. However, her family and some members of the public have questioned the validity of the report and the investigation. They have raised several issues, such as:
How did Selena end up in the field where her body was found, when her friends claimed that they saw her walking towards the rest stop?
Why did her friends leave her behind at the rest stop, when they knew that she was intoxicated and vulnerable?
How did the police miss her body during the initial search, when it was only 200 feet away from the road?
Why did it take 20 days to find her body, when there were no signs of her being moved or hidden by anyone?
Was Selena a victim of human trafficking, as some rumors suggested?
These questions have not been satisfactorily answered by the authorities, and the case remains a tragic mystery for many.
What Is Being Done to Seek Justice for Selena Not Afraid?
Selena Not Afraid’s death has sparked outrage and grief among her family, friends, and community. They have organized vigils, protests, and petitions to demand justice and accountability for her. They have also raised awareness about the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) in the United States and Canada. According to a report by the Urban Indian Health Institute, there were 5,712 cases of MMIWG in 2016, but only 116 were logged in the Department of Justice database. The report also stated that Montana had the highest number of MMIWG cases per capita in the country.
Selena’s family has also filed a lawsuit against the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, alleging negligence, wrongful death, and civil rights violations. The lawsuit claims that the sheriff’s office failed to conduct a timely and thorough investigation, and that they discriminated against Selena because of her race and gender. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial.
Selena Not Afraid’s death has exposed the systemic failures and injustices that affect indigenous communities in the United States. Her family and supporters hope that her case will bring about positive changes and reforms that will protect and honor the lives of indigenous women and girls. Selena Not Afraid’s name and memory will not be forgotten.
