Rachel Sloan and Lakota Renville were Indigenous women whose lives ended in violence, leaving their families searching for justice. Rachel’s burned remains were found in 2015 in Laytonville, California, and her case remains unsolved, overshadowed by systemic neglect that often surrounds cases involving Native women. Adding to her family’s pain, Rachel’s mother was also a homicide victim, marking a chilling pattern of violence.
In 2005, Lakota Renville’s body was discovered in a vacant lot in Independence, Missouri. Despite years of advocacy by her family and attention from Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women groups, her murder remains a cold case. Both families have tirelessly fought to keep their loved ones’ stories alive, holding vigils and pushing for leads.
These cases reflect the broader MMIW crisis, where Native women face disproportionately high rates of violence and systemic barriers to justice. Rachel and Lakota’s stories are calls to action, urging communities and policymakers to prioritize the safety and justice of Indigenous women.
Join Arlene and Leah as they share the stories of these women, the evidence, and where their cases stand today.
Show Notes:
Support Box in the Basement & Our Causes
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.