The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office and the Navajo Nation Police Department say their investigation remains active in the death of 8-year-old Maleeka “Mollie” Boone, as new developments point to the possibility that she was unintentionally struck by a vehicle earlier this year.
In a recent
news release, the FBI stated that “Investigators believe it is possible that the driver of a larger vehicle, possibly a pickup truck, may have struck Boone without realizing it.” The agency said evidence indicates Boone was likely hit by a passing motorist on the evening of Jan. 15, 2026.
Authorities are now seeking information from anyone who may have observed vehicles traveling along Cedar Loop Road within the Coalmine Navajo Housing Authority neighborhood between 5:50 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. that evening. The FBI said the vehicle involved may have been a larger model.
Boone was
reported missing at approximately 6 p.m. on Jan. 15 after leaving a family member’s home around 4:15 p.m. to return to her residence, according to information posted on the FBI’s website. Both homes were located in the same neighborhood in Coalmine, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Officials believe she had been playing nearby and was walking home when the incident occurred.
Her body was discovered at about 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 in a field within the Coalmine neighborhood, the FBI said. The circumstances surrounding her death prompted a joint investigation between federal authorities and Navajo Nation police.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Boone’s death. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), contacting a local FBI office, or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
The case falls under federal jurisdiction because it occurred on tribal land. According to FBI crime data summaries, the agency frequently
works with tribal law enforcement partners to investigate serious offenses in Indian Country, including violent crimes and unexplained deaths.
“The FBI has special jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed on about 200 reservations nationwide,” a
statement on the website reads, noting that its jurisdiction is obtained from the General Crimes Act and the Major Crimes Act.
Officials have not announced any arrests, and no specific vehicle or driver has been publicly identified. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather information from the public and analyze available evidence.
According to
FBI data covering 2021 through 2023, law enforcement agencies reported 25,817 incidents of violent crime against American Indian and Alaska Native females. The violent offenses
inspected were murder, aggravated assault, and intimidation.
