NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is mourning the loss of a 18-year-old pregnant tribal citizen who went missing on the night before her 18th birthday on Oct. 20, 2020.
Jalajhia Finklea, a Mashpee Wampanoag tribal citizen, was found dead in a field off of Route 95 in Fellsmere, Fla., about 1,350 miles from her home.
Finklea’s remains were found by the Indian River County Sheriff’s department detectives after receiving a call from another Florida county’s sheriff’s office saying that a missing female body may have been left in a field in Okaloosa County.
“Earlier this morning, we received a call from our partners at the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office about an active criminal investigation. Their investigation led them to believe that the body of a murdered female had been dumped here in our county,” Okaloosa County Sheriff-elect Eric Flowers said.
After the body was positively identified, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe posted the following message on its website:
“Our very deepest condolences to the family of Jalajhia Finklea. We hold them in our prayers in this most sorrowful time. We must be here for them and one another.”
Finklea went missing on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 from New Bedford, Mass.
She was seen getting into a vehicle driven by Luis Zaragoza, also known as Luis Barbosa, who reportedly rented the vehicle from Logan International Airport in Boston and used it to pick up Finklea.
Authorities say Finklea called Zaragoza’s cell phone just prior to being picked up by him. It was the last time she used her cell phone. Law enforcement later located Finklea’s cell phone abandoned about five miles from where Zaragoza picked her up.
Zaragoza was shot and killed by U.S. Marshals in Crestview, Fla., on Nov. 5, 2020, when they were attempting to take him into custody.
“On November 5, U.S. Marshals and an assisting Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to arrest the suspect at a McDonald’s parking lot in Crestview, Florida. The suspect, who was armed with a handgun, died during a confrontation with police,” the Bristol DA’s Office said in their release.
The cause of death has yet to be determined.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Lawmakers Push To Expand Tribal Food Sovereignty Program
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Give Tribes Tax Parity with States
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
