Jermain Charlo, who grew up on Montana's Flathead Reservation vanished on June 15, 2018. #shorts | Forensic Files

Germaine Charlo went missing after leaving a bar in Missoula, Montana on June 15th, 2018 and hasn't been seen
since. Charlo, a member of the Confederated Salish and Coutin tribes, grew up on the Flathead reservation in
Montana. For years, investigators have been trying to solve her case. Meanwhile, Charlotte's family and
members of the community have made it their mission to make sure that missing and murdered indigenous women, also
known as MMIW, get justice and fair treatment. >> It's not like we're asking for special
treatment. We're just asking for the same treatment. We're not going to stop looking for our people.
We're not. Our lives matter. Jen Murphy, who has joined several volunteer searches for Charlo, came up with the
idea to put Charlo's missing poster on a billboard. >> I currently am doing a project with
billboards throughout Montana and throughout the United States. I try to have billboards as close to our
reservations as possible. Trying to make sure that speaking to the perpetrators too, like we see you. As a photographer,
Jen Murphy is using her lens to open the aperture to the MMIW crisis. This photo
shoot with Vinyl Little Owl was in the same alley where Charlotte was last seen.
>> Starts out with praying and trying to set yourself right. >> We offer a moment of silence in a space
for our sisters to painting on the paint. >> Just relax your hand. Okay. And then just put your hand just
straight down. What does the red hand mean? >> The red handprint really symbolizes our
people being silenced. How we have always been looked at differently and that our people have not
been heard in the same way that other people are. That's a harsh reality and it has been since the beginning of time,
since colonization. >> Charlo's family can't help but wonder about how her case was treated in those
critical early days in the investigation. When I reported her missing, there was no sense of urgency.
I don't know if it's because she's over 18 or because she was drinking or the fact that she was Native American.
>> Charlotte remains missing, but her family and Jen Murphy are keeping their mission alive.
>> I feel like we're all of the human race and should be looked for the same.

Brief Summary

Germaine Charlo's disappearance sparks community action for MMIW awareness and justice.

Key points

Germaine Charlo's Disappearance. Germaine Charlo went missing after leaving a bar in Missoula, Montana on June 15, 2018.
The Fight for Justice. Charlotte's family and community advocate for justice for missing and murdered indigenous women.
Symbolism of the Red Handprint. The red handprint symbolizes the silencing of indigenous people.
Urgency in Investigations. Charlo's family questions the lack of urgency in her missing person case.
A Mission to Keep Alive. Despite the challenges, Charlo's family and Jen Murphy continue their search for justice.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

We're not going to stop looking for our people.

Jen Murphy on the search for missing indigenous women.

0:32WatchJul 27, 2025

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