What Really Happened to Selena Not Afraid?
“We will not rest until we find out what happened to Selena and bring those responsible to justice. We owe it to her and to her family to do everything in our power to get answers.” — Big Horn County, Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair.
In January of 2020, the disappearance and tragic death of Selena Not Afraid sent shockwaves through the nation, shedding light on the persistent issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the United States. Selena’s case sparked widespread outrage, leading to calls for justice, increased awareness, and a renewed commitment to addressing the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous communities. As we reflect on the case of Selena Not Afraid, it becomes evident that her story is a catalyst for change and a reminder of the urgent need to protect and uplift marginalized voices.
Meet Selena Not Afraid:
Selena Shelley Faye Not Afraid was born on June 18, 2003, along with her twin sister Zoey, to her parents Jacquelena Big Hair and Leroy (Sheila) Not Afraid. She was a young 16-year-old Native American girl living on the Crow reservation in Big Horn County, Montana. She was described as a sweet, kind, fun, and loving person with many friends. She was a junior at Hardin High School and enjoyed many sports, such as volleyball, basketball, and horseback riding. She had a strong passion for horses, leading to her aspiration of owning a farm and becoming an Indian relay rider.
Selena was also known to be a creative person when it came to her sewing and bead work. Unfortunately, for Selena, her life was not easy, as she and her family had suffered the traumatic deaths of her three siblings. The first family tragedy resulted in her twin sister, Zoey, taking her own life in 2014 at the age of 11. Three years after Zoey committed suicide, Preston Bell (Selena’s older brother) would be shot and killed by police at the age of 24. Shortly after Preston’s death, Selena’s older sister Tristen Grey was killed in a hit-and-run incident, leaving Selena and her brother, RJ, to be the two remaining siblings left until her death in 2020.
Selena’s Disappearance:
On December 31, 2019, Selena celebrated New Year’s Eve along with some friends at a party on Montana Avenue in Billings, Montana. It was reported that there was alcohol at the party, and Selena and her friends were participating in underage drinking. After Selena and five others stayed the night at the house party, they loaded up in a van and departed for Hardin on New Year’s Day. While traveling to their destination, they started having car troubles and stopped at a rest stop between Billings and Hardin on I-90 at 2 p.m. The van managed to be temporarily fixed, and according to the driver, he told Selena and her friend, Arlana, to wait for his mom to pick them up because the van was not permanently fixed and would break down again. This would be the last reported sighting of Selena alive. 10 minutes later, after the driver left, his mom arrives at the rest stop, but Selena and her friend are nowhere in sight. After searching the rest stop, she finds Arlana alone, sitting in a ditch nearby the rest stop with scratches all over her body and no shoes. Arlana claimed that she had no memory of where she was or how she got there. Once Selena’s family was notified of her disappearance, they contacted local authorities.
The Investigation and Search for Selena:
After Selena’s disappearance was reported, police started conducting an investigation. An eyewitness came forward and told the police during an interview that they saw Selena running off into a field by the rest stop. With this information, a search team of law enforcement and volunteers began searching the field that she had supposedly run into. They searched all perimeters of the field using ATVs, helicopters, horses, dogs, and drones. Unfortunately, they did not find anything. They even searched the van that Selena rode in from the party to the rest stop, but the police never disclosed whether they found anything or not.
Shortly after, around 3 weeks later, Selena’s remains were discovered less than a mile into the field where the witness claimed she ran into. After she was found in very close proximity to where she was last seen, this led many people to be outraged with investigators and police because they did not understand how authorities were able to miss her body with all the resources they had, as well as not being thorough with the search. Her death was ruled accidental when the autopsy report came back stating that she died from hyperthermia. Foul play was also ruled out due to the fact that there were no tire tracks or footprints nearby, nor were there any physical wounds or injuries to her body.
However, her family and many others disagree. Selena’s aunt, Cheryl Horn, did an interview with “The U.S. Sun,” claiming in the article that Selena’s body was moved after she had died. In the article, “Chilling details emerge as Selena Not Afraid’s aunt says ‘body was moved’ after her murder in Big Horn, Montana,” Cheryl Horn states that “she was on site 24/7 and the area was searched to no avail” (Caitlin Hornik). Horn continues with her statement that “where she was found, she wasn’t there; I have an eyewitness who walked there more than once; the eyewitness told us, ‘I was here. She was not’. (Caitlin Hornik). It is evident that Selena’s family has major suspicions revolving around her death, and honestly, I do not blame them. It is very odd that police and investigators searched the field entirely with a number of different resources to help find her, and no remains were in sight until nearly 3 weeks later.
Lastly, charges were made in the case towards the end of 2020, when 20-year-old Diandra Pitman was charged with endangering the welfare of children. According to court documents, Selena was invited to the house party on New Year’s Eve in 2019 by Pitman with the intention of consuming alcohol. However, it is unclear whether or not she was convicted of the charges.
Remembering Selena Not Afraid:
Selena Not Afraid’s story serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change. Her life was tragically cut short, but her memory lives on as a symbol of resilience, strength, and the ongoing struggle for justice. Her case has galvanized communities, sparked crucial conversations, and reignited efforts to protect Indigenous women and address the systemic issues that contribute to their vulnerability. As we remember Selena Not Afraid, we must honor her memory by supporting the ongoing advocacy work, listening to the voices of Indigenous communities, and demanding accountability and systemic change. The fight for justice for Selena and all missing and murdered Indigenous women is not only a matter of human rights but also an essential step towards building a society that values and protects every individual, regardless of their background.
