Resources for Missing Persons

According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day. Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends. Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.

Missing Person Photos

Brenda Schmalfeldt






Schmalfeldt, date, approximate 2007; Raven Navajo
Date Missing 01/13/2007
Missing From
Las Vegas, Nevada
Missing Classification Endangered Missing
Sex Female
Race
White
Age 45 years old
Height and Weight 5'2, 225 pounds
Associated Vehicle(s) 1996 Chrysler Sebring (accounted for)
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Blonde hair.
Details of Disappearance Schmalfeldt was last seen leaving the Zodies Bar in the 3000 block of Flamingo Road near Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 13, 2007. She had been drinking there and the bartender cut her off. She walked out of the bar with an acquaintance, Raven Navajo, at 3:00 p.m. Photographs of Navajo are posted with this summary. Navajo is transgender; although biologically male, she lives as a female. Her birth name was Michael Scott Harmon.
Less than a week after Schmalfeldt's disappearance, Navajo went to police and confessed she had killed her. Navajo stated the two of them went to Navajo's residence to watch movies, then Navajo accused Schmalfeldt of stealing money and they had an argument that escalated into a fight.
Navajo said she beat Schmalfeldt to death, then stole $580 from the dead woman's purse. She said she was drunk at the time and "blacked out" after hitting Schmalfeldt the first time, and did not realize she had killed her until she woke up later and saw the corpse. She kept Schmalfeldt's body for several days before putting the remains in a dumpster behind the Clark County Education Association in the 4200 block of McLeod Drive.
Authorities found Schmalfeldt's blood in Navajo's garage, on the hood of Navajo's 1996 Chrysler Sebring and in the dumpster. Schmalfeldt's jewelry was also located in Navajo's apartment.
Navajo was charged with murder and robbery and investigators began a search for Schmalfeldt's body, which is believed to be in the Apex Landfill. An extensive search of the landfill failed to turn up any evidence, however, and police eventually stopped looking.
In October 2007, Navajo attempted to plead guilty to first-degree murder. Prosecutors had offered to let her plead to second-degree murder instead, but Navajo insisted she wanted the harshest possible punishment. The presiding judge refused to accept Navajo's plea, ruling that there was insufficient evidence of premeditiation to prove first-degree murder, so Navajo went to trial.
Her attorney conceded she had caused Schmalfeldt's death, but argued that it was an accident. In February 2008, Navajo was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to ten years to life in prison. Three of the jurors said they had wanted to convict her of a lesser offense such as manslaughter, but they didn't have the option.
Schmalfelt was a regular customer at Zodies Bar prior to her disappearance. She is originally from Iowa. At the time of her disappearance, she was employed as a cocktail waitress at the New York-New York and had three pet dogs. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance due to the circumstances involved.
Investigating Agency
Las Vegas Police Department
Other
The Las Vegas Review-Journal
KTNV
The Best Friends Network
KLAS-TV
KVBC

Missing Person Photos

A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe. By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends. A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.

Resources for Missing Persons

According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day. Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends. Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.

Missing Person Photos