Child found dead after Coalmine-Cedar Loop search in Apache County

Navajo Police Department and federal teams concluded a multi-agency search on Jan. 16 after 8-year-old Maleeka "Mollie" Boone was found dead, prompting the FBI to cancel a Turquoise Alert that had been issued earlier that day. Search efforts centered on the Coalmine and Cedar Loop area of Apache County, where the child was last seen walking near Cedar Loop at about 6:00 p.m. the prior evening.

Tribal law enforcement led the response, joined by state and federal partners including the FBI and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation. Investigators established a command post in the neighborhood and placed the locality on lockdown while they worked. The heavy presence of officers and investigators marked an intense, coordinated effort to locate the child and secure the scene.

The sudden loss has had an immediate impact on the tight-knit communities near Cedar Loop and Coalmine. Residents reported shaken nerves and an increased sense of vigilance as law-enforcement vehicles and personnel moved through the area. Local movement was disrupted during the active search and lockdown, and families remain concerned as investigators continue to work the case.

This case highlights the operational relationship between tribal, state, and federal agencies on the Navajo Nation and in Apache County. The Turquoise Alert mechanism, deployed to help find missing vulnerable people quickly, was lifted once the child was located, shifting the response from search and rescue to a criminal investigation. Authorities have characterized the situation as an active investigation, and additional forensic and investigative steps are underway.

For residents, the investigation underscores both the strengths and the strains of multi-jurisdictional response in rural and tribal settings. The command post and lockdown reflected an effort to concentrate resources and preserve evidence, but they also meant disruption to daily life for neighbors and families in the immediate area.

What comes next is focused investigative work. Investigators will continue to process the scene and piece together the circumstances surrounding Maleeka Boone's death, and law-enforcement agencies indicated their involvement will persist while the probe remains active. The community will be watching for further updates as officials balance the need for transparency with the family’s privacy and the integrity of the investigation.