The remains of an Indigenous woman who had been missing for five years have been uncovered by authorities in Washington state, according to various reports.

The woman, identified as Mary Johnson-Davis, was a member of the Tulalip Tribes. Her identification was confirmed through DNA testing.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Tulalip Police Department, reported that Johnson-Davis was last seen on November 25, 2020. She was walking east on Fire Trail Road, heading towards a friend’s house, and was reported missing two weeks later.

“We are in disbelief that we will never see Mary again,” expressed her sisters in a heartfelt joint statement.

“We all hoped she would come home. Now she is being returned to us, but not in the way we imagined. It feels surreal, as if we are in a dream, wishing to wake up and see her. Yet, our family finally has closure,” they added.

Tulalip Police Chief Shawn Ledford added, “With deep respect for the family and Tulalip community, the Tulalip Police Department is heartbroken to confirm that human remains have been positively identified as Mary Johnson-Davis, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington.”

Johnson-Davis’ disappearance prompted Washington state to change its law in 2022 and the establishment of the Missing Indigenous Person alerts, disseminated through email and social media. State officials and authorities lauded the system with being largely successful in recovering missing persons, including many juvenile runaways.

Authorities said Johnson-Davis’ disappearance and death remain under investigation. They have also yet to confirm the cause and manner of death.

The Tulalip Tribes and FBI are offering a $60,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Johnson-Davis’ disappearance.