MMIP: Data and Methodology

Last Updated: March 5, 2025

This section provides an in-depth overview of the data and investigative collection methods and definitions used by Arizona Luminaria in compiling information about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Transgender People (MMIWG2T).

Data collection process

Initial research:

• Search for and create a comprehensive list in a spreadsheet of all Arizona law enforcement agencies, including tribal police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Seek input from law enforcement public records departments about possible records to request
• Craft a public records template requesting a list of all homicide and active missing person case numbers with a Native American victim(s) dating as far back as the agency is able to search
• Publish an MMIWG2T questionnaire inviting Indigenous families to share their stories of a loved one who went missing or murdered. Meet with Indigenous MMIP advocates to build trust and expand information on cases and data in various jurisdictions.

Following up:

• Regularly updating the spreadsheet with status of each request, including agency contact information, date of last contact, notes about the request, etc.
• When faced with challenges from law enforcement fulfilling public records requests, spoke with attorneys from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Narrowed number of law enforcement agencies to focus on and sent additional communications to spur release of records.
• Once received, review lists of case numbers to determine which individual incident reports to request, specifically cases in which an Indigenous woman or girl was missing or murdered
• Submit secondary request for those individual incident reports and log in spreadsheet
• Regularly updating spreadsheet, including closing out completed requests along with noting associated costs

Data discretion

Reflected in this data are Indigenous women and girls verified as missing or murdered in Arizona, as well as deaths categorized as suspicious or resulting from police shootings.

Exclusions:

• To maintain privacy, only the victim’s first name and last initial are viewable on the database unless permission is given by a family member or the person is missing
• Some missing person and homicide cases were excluded from the database pending verification
• Homicides resulting from DUI crashes have not been included in the database as these incidents are often legally and categorically distinct from other homicides. Focusing on other cases allows the database to address trends and patterns more directly tied to intentional acts of violence or harm
• Male cases were not included in the database due to initial funding parameters, which dictated a narrower focus. Additionally, this limited scope made the project more manageable and allowed for a step-by-step process to build upon in future data and investigative reporting

Data limitations:

• More than 100 public records requests were filed during the creation of this database. While some have been completed, others remain in process or were ignored/denied. As such, this database should not be considered a full accounting of all relevant cases.
• Tribal affiliation details are not regularly collected or delineated by many primary sources. As a result, secondary sources were heavily relied upon to obtain this information. While every effort was made to provide accurate representation, gaps may still exist due to the inconsistency of available data.
• Currently, there are no known transgender or Two-Spirit cases reflected in the database. While they were specifically included in Arizona Luminaria’s public records requests, this information is also not regularly collected or delineated by primary sources and has proven challenging to locate elsewhere. 

Data reconciliation

This investigative journalism project utilizes a thorough and methodical approach to gather, verify and reconcile information on cases. By relying on trusted primary and secondary sources, as well as public submissions, this process aims to create an accurate and comprehensive database while acknowledging the inherent challenges of data collection.

Primary Sources:

• Law enforcement incident reports: typically provides comprehensive details, including demographics (name, age, race, though tribal affiliation is rarely included) along with the type of incident, date, location and a summary of the case.
• Other databases:
  • National Missing and Unidentified Persons System
  • FBI and BIA’s MMIP webpages
  • Navajo Nation PD Missing Persons webpage
  • AZ DPS Missing Children database
• State and federal court records
• Law enforcement statements and/or social media posts
• Autopsy Reports

Secondary Sources:

• News reports
• Obituaries
• Social media posts, particularly from victim family or close connections
• Personal accounts from family whose loved one was missing or murdered
• Public participation: an online questionnaire created by Arizona Luminaria for the public to submit cases that are later vetted through the above process

Data definitions

Term	Definition
Name	The first name and last initial of the individual to maintain privacy.
Age	The age of the individual at the time of the incident.
Tribal affiliation	The tribe or nation with which the individual is affiliated, if known.
Incident type	The type of incident, such as missing, homicide, or suspicious death.
Date	The date when the individual went missing or was killed, even if they died at a later date.
Location	The major cross streets nearest to the exact address where the individual went missing or was killed. If unknown, the nearest known community or region.
Summary	A brief description of the incident, including relevant details and context.
Indigenous	A person identified in public records, by public officials, or family members as having Native American / American Indian / Alaska Native descent.
Tribal affiliation	A person identified in public records, by public officials, or family members as having a connection to a specific tribe or nation.
Two-Spirit	A cultural term within Indigenous communities of someone who identifies as having both a feminine and masculine spirit.
Transgender	A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Missing	A person whose whereabouts are unknown.
Homicide	The killing of one person by another person.
Police shooting	A death resulting from the use of a firearm by law enforcement officers during an encounter.
Suspicious death	A death that was unexpected, with unexplained circumstances, or reason to suspect criminal activity.

Contact us: Reach Chelsea Curtis at ccurtis@azluminaria.org or at 602-492-1684. Follow her on Bluesky at @chelcurtis.bsky.social or X at @curtis_chels.