Colorado issues Missing Indigenous Person Alert for Colorado Springs woman

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has activated a Missing Indigenous Person Alert (MIPA) for Mary Margaret Checketts, 31, last seen near South Sierra Madre Street by Antlers Park in Colorado Springs. The alert describes Checketts as 5’3″ (160 cm), 115 lb (52 kg), with brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a black long‑sleeve shirt and white floral yoga pants. Anyone with information is urged to call the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at (719) 390‑5555.

Colorado created the MIPA system to address the disproportionate rates of disappearances affecting Native communities and to speed public notifications. State law requires CBI to operate a coordinated alert program with local police, tribes and broadcasters to aid in rapid location and safe recovery of missing Indigenous people.

The alert comes amid continuing national attention on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). While MMIP is often framed with Canadian statistics, U.S. data also show elevated risks and a need for faster coordination when a person disappears. Colorado’s approach places the alert on the same footing as other statewide warnings, but tailored to Indigenous communities’ needs and with dedicated liaison support.

In this case, the specifics are clear and time‑sensitive.

Authorities have provided a last‑seen location, clothing description and physical characteristics – all details that can make a difference when community members are scanning surveillance footage or social media photos from the day of the disappearance.

Officials have asked the public to avoid sharing unverified rumours and instead report tips directly to the sheriff’s office or 911 where appropriate.

As the investigation proceeds, the CBI reminds agencies to notify it within hours when an Indigenous adult is reported missing, a step designed to prevent delays that can slow down the first critical searches. The wider goal of Colorado’s rule‑based system is simple: remove friction and mobilise attention quickly, because speed improves the chance of a safe return.