across the nation, it s heart wrenching. to really think about how we are invisible. i don t want another family to ever feel like how we felt. hello, and welcome to dateline. we carla yellow bird mmiw grew up surrounded by love on her north dakota indian reservation, when she vanished her family was frantic to find her, and believed authoritarians were not doing enough. it is a common feeling in native american circles. but the yellow birds had a secret weapon, carla s own aunt happened to be a no nonsense investigator determined to find the truth. here s andrea canning with the secrets of spirit lake. there s been a lot of sacrifice that went with this, on a personal level, you know. but you are never done? never done. her name is lisa yellow bird, her job defies description. investigator, interrogator, searcher of last result. the one people turn to in their very worst moments. this is backbreaking, this is 24/7. this is you living and breathing this. const
that. she wanted to talk more with suna. so, lissa turned to facebook yet again. but this time, she focused on suna. what is this your posting on facebook that your niece was last seen with me? it made him angry enough to pick up the phone again. you need to get honest with me because i m done playing. well, i ve been only honest with you. i don t know what you want because i m not making nothing up. in their previous call, lissa tried to build a bond with suna. now she came at him full throttle. you think i haven t dealt with your kind of people before? i have. i will come get her personally myself if i have to. but i want to know. lissa s strategy was to show suna how angry he was, to intimidate him into giving up more details. you tell me where my niece s body is at and i will let god [bleep] reckon with you, okay? because we already know how it s gone down and i m telling you right now, you don t know who to trust because your own
missing and later turns up dead. what was unusual in carla s case was that her killers were brought to justice. dylan st-pierre said he had carla on the head with a gun and then accidentally discharged. he pleaded guilty to felony murder and related charges and was sentenced to 27 and a half years. dakota charbonneau pleaded guilty to second degree murder for aiding and abetting the killing. he was sentenced to 50 years in prison for carla s murder and other charges. as part of a plea deal, suna guy was sentenced to 15 years for second degree murder and related charges. you came face to face with suna guy? yes, i did. what did he say to you? he just told me he was sorry and not listen to him. did you say anything to him? well, i was just happy that he showed where my daughter was. there was a surprise witness at suna s sentencing. you actually spoke on behalf of suna. why would you do that when suna
her. we will continue looking for for so many other native american mothers, bringing their missing children home is something they can only hope for. but some think there is no reason for hope. it s been a sad history and so, we are trying to change it. coming up, you actually spoke on behalf of suna. why would you do that? in court, a surprise that would divide carla yellow birds family. do you think that you will ever be able to repair things with lissa? and. i want you to know that you are not alone, we are here with you. so many forgotten families. is change coming at last? we are seeing some action on it right now. when dateline continues. when dateline continues when dateline continues my wife smoked, and she quit. because she needs to be here for to take care of me. (announcer) the people you love are worth quitting for. you can quit. for free help, call 1-800-quit-now.
helicopters, drones, and atvs. but lissa was not counting on the bia to find carla. suna what is still her biggest lead, but she had hung up on him. did you think then, i m never going to hear from him again? no. turned out, she was right. hello, lissa? who s this? he called you back? he did. the power dynamic has shifted. suna was seeking her out, seemed to want to tell her something. you know, i m just trying to help you. lissa kept the pressure on. she needed suna to feel guilty. you re not trying to help me. so, where you kind of betting on his conscience that eventually, he would do the right thing? i knew he would. lissa s demands for answers wore away at an hour defensive suna. and you know what? i can have pretty on you. i can have pretty on you, but i want my nieces body. you know, my parents did raise me right. i come from a great family, you