Federal agents on Thursday unveiled an age-progression rendering of Darian Ray Nevayaktewa, who went missing from the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona in 2008. The image is intended to show how Nevayaktewa — who would be about 37 years old today — might appear now and to prompt people with information to contact investigators.
What officials say
Nevayaktewa disappeared on June 19, 2008, from Kykotsmovi Village after attending a gathering near Pumpkin Seed Hill. He was 19 at the time and had been visiting his father while living in New Mexico with his mother.
“We have been searching for Darian since June 2008. If anyone out there knows anything, please come forward. Darian, we miss you. We love you. We will never stop searching for you. Please help us bring Darian home.”
The family issued that public appeal through investigators, underscoring that the search remains active nearly two decades later. The age-adjusted image was produced by forensic artists at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a step law-enforcement officials say can help revive interest in long-running cases.
“Age-progression images can generate new leads in long-term missing cases. We encourage the public to carefully review Darian’s image and share it widely. A single tip could help bring him home,”
said Charles Addington, principal director of Justice Services and Law Enforcement for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Case details and how to report tips
Investigators say Nevayaktewa was last seen during a short visit to the reservation and that his disappearance followed a family gathering. Officials are seeking anyone who may have seen him that day or who has information about his movements before or after June 19, 2008.
- Last seen: Pumpkin Seed Hill area, Kykotsmovi Village (Hopi Reservation)
- Original age at disappearance: 19
- Approximate age now: 37
People with information are urged to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Arizona at 1-833-560-2065. Tips also can be emailed to OJS_MMU@bia.gov. Anonymous tips may be submitted by texting the bureau at 847411.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date missing | June 19, 2008 |
| Location | Kykotsmovi Village, Hopi Reservation |
| Age then / now (approx.) | 19 / 37 |
This case sits within a broader and persistent challenge: long-term missing-person investigations on tribal lands often rely on renewed public attention or new forensic leads to move forward. The age-progression image aims to do exactly that — refresh the public’s memory and invite fresh tips that could change the course of a nearly 18-year-old inquiry.
Anyone who believes they may have relevant information should contact the numbers above. Even a small, previously overlooked detail can be crucial to investigators and to a family that says it will not stop searching.
