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6d ago

Minnesota Opens Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund for Unsolved Indigenous Cases

Officials hope tip rewards of up to $10,000 in 16 eligible cases will prompt fresh leads in longstanding investigations.

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Overview

  • Lawmakers provided $250,000 and specialty MMIR license plate sales added $100,000 to seed the $350,000 reward fund.
  • Law enforcement agencies can offer up to $2,500 for identifying a person of interest, $5,000 for tips leading to an arrest and $10,000 for locating remains.
  • Anonymous tips can be submitted through law enforcement agencies or Crime Stoppers to qualify for rewards in 16 of the 22 active cases that have completed intake.
  • The fund’s rollout was delayed for two years while the MMIR office worked with the Department of Public Safety and an advisory board to finalize policies and procedures.
  • Guadalupe Lopez of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will take over next week from interim director Ana Negrete to oversee the MMIR office and the reward program.