Minnesota Teen Vanishes, Family Still Searching For Answers
On October 22, 2021, 15-year-old Nevaeh Kingbird vanished from a neighborhood in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Two and a half years later, Nevaeh's family and friends are still living the nightmare of not knowing where she is and what happened.
What Happened To Nevaeh Kingbird?
The day Nevaeh went missing, her family says she had invited some friends over for a party at her mom's house in the area of Carter Circle on the south side of Bemidji.
The party was reportedly broken up at about 1 AM and Nevaeh ran to a friend's house a half-mile away in the Southview Terrace Mobile Home Park, according to missing Minnesota BCA person reports.
Nevaeh's sister, LaKaylee Kingbird, said when that friend's stepdad came home, Nevaeh ran again and was last seen leaving the Southview Terrace residence at about 2 AM.
After she did not return home -- her phone and clothes left behind -- Nevaeh's family reported her missing. A month later, investigators started asking questions.
Searching For Nevaeh Kingbird
Searches for Nevaeh ranged from small community-led rallies to large-scale, multi-group collaborations.
Two years after Nevaeh's disappearance, in October of 2023, the 13th organized search took place. It was the largest search for an Indigenous person in Minnesota ever conducted.
Volunteers along with tribes, law enforcement, non-profits, fire departments, and federal agencies organized a large grid search that included K9s, ground, aerial, and underwater searches.
"This still feels fresh to us. Like the hurt is still there," LaKaylee told Kare 11 in an October 2023 interview.
Police collected items of interest during searches and received several tips over the years, but still no definitive answers.
Nevaeh's mom, Teddi Wind, is keeping hope alive. "I just want her to know that we will never give up looking for her," she told WCCO.
What's Next in the Search For Nevaeh Kingbird?
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent out a media advisory on Friday highlighting Nevaeh's case saying they are working alongside the Bemidji Police Department to locate the missing 17-year-old.
The Bemidji Police Department has been dedicated to finding Nevaeh, and asked NCMEC to share this statement:
The Bemidji Police Department, along with our partner agencies which include the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), The Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many more, continue in to work diligently to find Nevaeh Kingbird. May 5th is recognized as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls Day (MMIWG). The Bemidji Police Department wants to take this opportunity to show our support for those with a missing loved one. While these cases weigh heavily on our minds, we know it doesn’t compare to what family and loved ones go through on a day-to-day basis. We stand with you all during these times and want you to know we will continue to work diligently to find Nevaeh.
"We want to shine a light on not only Nevaeh’s case, but to all the Indigenous girls who are still missing," NCMEC said in the news release. Resources they provide can be found on their website at Resources and Technical Assistance for Native American Communities and Indian Country.
Nevaeh Kingbird is described as having brown hair, brown eyes, 5 foot 5 inches tall, and 120 pounds with both ears pierced. She was wearing either a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt or a red sweatshirt with a bull logo, blue skinny jeans, a white undershirt, and black and red Nike sandals the night she went missing.
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If you have any information about Nevaeh or her disappearance, please contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Bemidji Police Department (Minnesota) at 1-218-333-9111.
A GoFundMe account called Help Bring Nevaeh Home was created by Nevaeh's mother to help cover the cost of private investigators and travel expenses as they continue the search for their daughter, sister, and friend.
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Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now
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