FROM THE ARCHIVE
BIA sends investigators to Pine Ridge
Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2001

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' new law enforcement director has sent two investigators to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to work on the the homicide cases of two Lakota men, the Associated Press reports today.

Robert Ecoffey assigned the pair to investigate the deaths of Ronald Hard Heart and Wilson Black Elk Jr. Both died near the Nebraska-South Dakota border in 1999.

Activists have linked the deaths to the border town of Whiteclay, where liquor establishments cater to primarily Indian clientele. Complaints of poor investigation of crimes and lax enforcement of violations have led Nebraska to step up police presence in the town.

The BIA is also working on the case of Richynda Roubideaux, a young girl who was found dead in 1997 near the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. Investigators from outside the Rosebud area have been assigned to the case, the AP reports.

The FBI is also considering increasing a $30,000 reward for information about the death.

Ecoffey took over the Law Enforcement Division last month. He was a superintendent at the BIA agency in Pine Ridge.

Related Stories:
Whiteclay liquor protested (8/23)
Whiteclay patrols draw complaints (8/6)
Whiteclay liquor store fined (7/18)
Whiteclay summit held in Neb. (6/12)
Whiteclay protest march held (6/11)
Whiteclay land still disputed (6/11)
High schoolers hear Whiteclay talk (6/7)
Peaceful protests expected in Whiteclay (6/6)
Attention being called to Whiteclay (6/4)
Whiteclay protest trial resumes (5/24)
Whiteclay liquor protests planned (5/18)
Movie being shot at Pine Ridge (4/24)
Whiteclay establishment fined (4/20)
Whats Going on at Whiteclay? (4/9)
Action on Whiteclay liquor promised (2/13)
Liquor executive order sought (2/5)
State questioned on Whiteclay liquor (1/12)
More Whiteclay investigation sought (12/15)
Whiteclay liquor sales targeted (12/14)
Whiteclay protesters reject plea (09/15)
Means fined for Whiteclay protest (08/28)
Whiteclay protests continue (06/12)