Advocates Raise Awareness About High Number Of Missing Persons Cases In Oklahoma

With many eyes on Gabby Petito's case, local advocates are working to raise awareness about the number of missing Oklahomans whose cases remain unsolved.

Statistics show Oklahoma has the second most native missing persons cases in the country, and one local family said even two and a half years later, they aren't giving up hope that their loved one will be found.

"You wake up and you're in this nightmare that's just ongoing,” said Aubrey Dameron’s aunt, Pam Smith. 

Dameron left her home in Grove in March of 2019 and was never seen or heard from again.

Related Story: Delaware Co. Deputies Searching For Woman Missing Since March

Dameron is Cherokee and transgender, and Smith said that at first, they had trouble getting help with her case.

"I believe that due to her being transgender and Native American that they don't care,” said Smith. 

Statistics from NamUS show Native American women make up 12% of the state's current number of missing people. Black women make up 25% of Oklahoma's unsolved missing persons cases. 

DVIS advocates also believe there's major differences in how missing persons cases are handled based on race.

"What would it look like if every victim of violence had the support of a nation like Gabby Petito?" DVIS CEO Tracey Lyall asked. "The more you put labels on people and situations, it's really easy to undervalue or devalue human life.”

Lyall said many women who are killed each year in Oklahoma and around the country are victims of domestic violence.

"There isn't a perfect victim,” said Lyall. “We have people of all walks of life that come through our doors and we feel everyone's life needs to be valued equally."

Smith said her heart goes out to Petito's family and she's glad her body was found, but she can't help but think her family might have answers right now if more resources were given to Dameron’s case.

"I feel that it doesn't matter color, gender, status quo, deserves to be searched for, deserves to be found and the ones who are murdered, they deserve justice,” said Smith.

Smith said they still receive tips about Dameron’s case even two and a half years later.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at (918) 664-3300 or the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service (918) 207-3800.