Ernest D. Pheasant, Sr., a 47-year-old member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2013 murder of Marie Walkingstick Pheasant, as reported by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The murder occurred within the Qualla Boundary in western North Carolina.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson stated that the sentence marks a change for Marie's family, saying, “For over a decade, Marie’s family has endured the pain of losing their loved one without justice. Today, that changed.” He emphasized the office's commitment to handling cases involving missing or murdered indigenous persons regardless of elapsed time.
Marie Walkingstick Pheasant was found deceased on December 29, 2013, inside a burned-out vehicle near Big Cove Road. Her death resulted from stab wounds, with confirmation linking DNA from a nearby baseball cap to Ernest Pheasant, her estranged husband.
In April 2022, the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) reopened the investigation, identifying Pheasant as the suspect. Evidence revealed Marie was killed at her home before being moved to the vehicle, which Pheasant set ablaze. Pheasant admitted to the crime in August 2024, pleading guilty to first-degree murder.
Marcelino Toersbijns, Chief of the MMU, expressed hope for closure for the victim’s relatives, stating, “While nothing can undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope that this sentence helps to provide closure to the family and friends of Marie Walkingstick Pheasant.”
The MMU, along with other agencies, was instrumental in the investigation, highlighting the coordination between the FBI, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and local tribal law enforcement, emphasizing the broader context of the crisis affecting tribal communities.
Operation Not Forgotten, an initiative launched by the Justice Department, underscores the commitment to resolving violent crimes in Indian Country. FBI resources are set to increase, focusing on investigating unresolved crimes involving indigenous persons. This operation builds on previous efforts initiated under President Trump’s administration to address the issue.
Attorney General Pam Bondi noted, “Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high. By surging FBI resources and collaborating closely with US Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to prosecute cases, the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve.”
The MMU’s mission aligns with these goals, reinforcing efforts initiated during President Trump’s term under Executive Order 13898, which established a task force on missing and murdered indigenous persons.
Operation Not Forgotten is enhancing current resources to tackle these challenges, enabling the integration of the Department's MMIP Regional Outreach Program in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to aid in resolving such cases. The existing efforts have already supported numerous cases, emphasizing justice and accountability in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
