Missing Fort Belknap woman found safe in Chicago

This afternoon, Davalena Buckman Kelley, a Fort Belknap woman who was reported missing Monday on Facebook by her sister Starr Sapphire, was found by Chicago Police Department with assistance from Fort Belknap Indian Community Law Enforcement, and arrangements have been made to return her back home to Montana.

"I just wanna give a huge thanks to everyone that shared the post, & helped get the word out," Sapphire wrote on a Facebook post Thursday.

According to a Monday Facebook post by Sapphire, the 18-year-old Kelley had left home with a laundry basket at approximately 7 a.m. that morning. When her sister didn't come back inside, Sapphire went to check on her and found the laundry basket lying on the ground by the back gate which was facing the road.

She said Kelley is mentally delayed and functions at the level of an 8- or 9-year-old. Kelley has run away in the past, and has been involved in other incidents because of her disabilities.

"(I know) for a fact she hasn't thought nor can comprehend the seriousness or dangers she has put herself in," Sapphire added in the Facebook post.

She said Indian reservations are still behind in establishing laws to protect disadvantaged people, and social media - which her sister is heavily involved in - is the biggest attraction for predators looking vulnerable young men and women.

Fort Belknap Tribal Public Relations Officer Alissa Snow said Kelley's parents had both passed away when she was younger. She added that Fort Belknap Law Enforcement was in charge of the case and was working to locate Kelley when she was found.

Sapphire said in a Facebook post Thursday that Kelley was found earlier in the day and is safe. She added that she did not want to discuss any details at this time.

"Just thankful it wasn't as dangerous as it could have been," she said. "There are just some things we cannot prevent no matter how hard we try. So I look forward to seeing our community come together (and) make some changes that are well (overdue.)"

She added that former Fort Belknap Social Services Domestic Violence Coordinator Cheryl Horn played a large role in recovering Kelley.

"Without her, (we) wouldn't have been able to get as much done and (gone as) far as we did in such short notice," Sapphire said. "Hands down she has all my honorary respect."

Havre Daily News has not received any further details on the incident, but updates will be published as they become available.