Emmilee Risling, a 32-year-old Native American woman and mother of two, was last seen on October 14, 2021, near Weitchpec, California, on the Yurok Reservation in Humboldt County. She was reportedly walking alone on a bridge over the Klamath River. Emmilee's disappearance has garnered significant attention, especially because she is part of a troubling pattern of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Northern California. In the 18 months leading up to her disappearance, several other Indigenous women from the same region have either gone missing or been found murdered.
Risling, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, had been struggling with mental health issues, including post-partum depression and psychosis, which were reportedly not being treated. Her family believes that she may have been self-medicating with methamphetamine. Prior to her disappearance, she had a history of erratic behavior, including an incident where she set fire to a cemetery, which led to her being charged with arson. Despite these challenges, her family and community continue to search for answers and push for greater attention to her case, which remains unsolved.
Emmilee's case highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S., where many cases lack proper investigation and media attention. Efforts to find her have included searches along the Klamath River and the surrounding forested areas, but so far, no significant leads have emerged. Her family and advocates continue to call for more resources and action to address the broader issue of violence against Indigenous women in the region.
Last Seen: Oct 16, 2021
