A 3-year-old girl disappeared in 2021. Can new images help police solve the case?
A digitally aged image from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of a missing Montana girl gives the public insight into how she may look like now.
Arden Pepion was 3 years old when she went missing from the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana on April 22, 2021.
The photograph, which was age progressed shows what Arden would look like at 6 years old.
What led up to Arden Pepion's disappearance?
Arden was last seen in the surrounding areas of Joe Show East Road near the Two Medicine River in Browning with her uncle around 7 p.m. on April 22, 2021, a Thursday, according to reporting by Great Falls Tribune.
Arden had been missing between five and six hours before authorities were contacted, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigators said.
Authorities later determined that Arden had not been abducted. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services identified footprints that matched hers and a boot believed to be Arden’s in the river, Great Falls Tribune reported.
The search effort had been scaled back after law enforcement analyzed the amount of manpower, resources and safety issues in connection with the search. However, they continued to search for Arden with a much smaller team.
BLES Chief of Police Jess Edwards encouraged the community to remain hopeful.
"We continue to care for our loved ones. Blackfeet Law Enforcement does care. We're here, and we're not going to give up hope," he said.
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What details have been released since Arden went missing?
A man reported to have been seen with Arden the night she went missing was also sentenced to house arrest in October of 2021 for negligent endangerment, according to the Great Falls Tribune.
He said he was practicing shooting and noticed Arden was missing while he was reloading his gun. He saw her footprints leading toward the Two Medicine River southeast of Browning, Great Falls Tribune reported.
HaHaax Vielle said he and his girlfriend searched for Arden for several hours before calling law enforcement.
Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services handed Arden’s case to Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit in July of 2022, according to reporting done by Missoulian.
Arden’s case is still considered open but no major updates regarding her whereabouts have been reported, according to the BIA website.
Key facts on Arden Pepion
Age when reported missing: 3
Missing since: April 22, 2021
Height: 3 feet
Weight: 31 pounds
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Brown
Additional information: Arden was last seen wearing a purple jacket with a unicorn design on the front, a gray sweater, black leggings and black boots with green trim, Great Falls Tribune reported.
Contact: Anyone with information about Arden's whereabouts can contact Bureau of Indian affairs at 1-(833)-560-2065, text BIAMMU at 847411 or email OJS_MMU@bia.gov.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arden Pepion missing person case in Montana gets renewed push
