Meskwaki authorities announce new developments in case of missing 9-year-old woman

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

LAURA. SO SAD FOR THESE VICTIMS. THANK YOU. BO WILL NEW CLUES DECLINED SEARCH FOR WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED NEARLY A DECADE AGO. RITA COPPOCK WAS LAST SEEN AT THE MESKWAKI BINGO CASINO HOTEL IN TAMA COUNTY ON JANUARY 3, 2015. MESKWAKI NATIONAL POLICE SAY A RECENT DEVELOPMENT LEAD THEM TO A NEW AREA OF INTEREST.

Police search area of interest in missing Meskwaki woman

The Meskwaki Nation Police Department said it spent five days searching a potential new area of interest in the search for Rita Papakee, a missing Meskwaki woman, KCRG reports. Papakee was last seen leaving the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in January 2015. On social media, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department said a recent development led to a new area of interest. The post does not specify where this area is, or what the development has been. “We feel like we're getting closer,” Meskwaki Police Chief Jeff Bunn said. Related story: Family seeks help in missing woman's case. Authorities conducted the search starting Saturday. to Wednesday with the help of specialists from across the country, including FBI agents from Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murder Unit and the Montana crime scenes. Related Story: Iowa Woman Last Seen Jan. 16, 2015 Anyone with information that could help this case is asked to contact the Meskwaki Nation Police Department at 641-484-4844. There is a reward for information leading to his whereabouts.” Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI

TAMA COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) —

The Meskwaki Nation Police Department said it spent five days searching a potential new area of interest in the search for Rita Papakee, a missing Meskwaki woman, KCRG reports.

Papakee was last seen leaving the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in January 2015.

On social media, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department said a recent development has led to a new area of focus. The post does not specify where this area is or what the development is.

“We feel like we're getting closer,” Meskwaki Police Chief Jeff Bunn said.

Related story: Family seeks help with missing woman's case

Authorities conducted the search Saturday through Wednesday with the help of specialists from across the country, including FBI agents from Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, as well as the Bureau's Missing and Murdered Persons Unit. Indian Affairs and the Montana Crime Scene Unit.

Related story: An Iowa woman was last seen on January 16, 2015.

Anyone with information that could help this case is asked to contact the Meskwaki Nation Police Department at 641-484-4844.

There is a reward for information leading to his whereabouts.

» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google game

Get the latest headlines from KCCI