Frease Family Requests Support From Lake County Supervisor to Resolve Daughter's Murder Mystery
As the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis continues, the Frease Family implores Supervisor E.J Crandell to address the injustices of Native American people within Lake County
May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for our Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR). On this day, we remember our stolen relatives, and honor those who are still missing. May 5 also serves as a call to action at the national level, for intervention at both the state and federal level to the epidemic of our missing & murdered relatives.
There is limited but growing data and information about MMIWR. More and more attention is being given to the issue by local, state, Tribal, and federal programs to help solve cold cases and intercede in better and more timely ways than in the past. Yet, so many families, people, and communities are still in pain that comes with not knowing or not being heard. Media still often ignores or provides minimal attention to MMIR, both as a whole and when people go missing.
Mr. Salvador Micheal Frease, father of the late 17-year-old Illeanna Makena "Illeboo" Frease, is imploring tribal leaders to help seek justice for his daughter following her Nov. 10, 2023 murder.
We are asking for a call to action for a letter of Support for E.J Crandell, Vice Chairman of Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians and of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, District 3, to address the injustices of Native American people within Lake County on and off tribal lands.
We humbly seek your support in justice for Illeanna Frease an enrolled member of the Elem Indian Colony, as well as justice for all Native American People within Lake County. It is imperative that all Native American People receive proper due process within Lake County. In November of 2023 Illeanna was fatally poisoned premeditatedly with fentanyl and alcohol, as well as robbed. Illeanna’s passing is not only a devastating loss to her family but also a critical reflection of systemic failures that have long impacted Indigenous communities throughout California and the Nation.
The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) is not an isolated phenomenon—it is the culmination of generations of harmful policies, systemic violence, and colonial injustice. The legacy of poverty, addiction, the trauma of genocide, and broken promises by institutions has left communities grappling with immense disparities. The systemic inequities perpetuated by these structures continue to hinder justice and healing, leaving families navigating complex systems in times of unbearable grief.
California’s status as a PL280 state further compounds these challenges. The transfer of criminal jurisdiction from federal to state authorities has created barriers to effective investigations in Indian Country. These barriers include limited tribal consultation, resource constraints for state law enforcement, and gaps in cultural understanding that often impede justice. Illeanna’s case—the first of its kind in Lake County—underscores the urgent need to address these systemic issues and establish accountability.
We are living through a crisis that stems not only from individual acts of violence but from systemic failures that have repeatedly silenced and marginalized Indigenous voices. Lake County has a troubling history of failing to properly investigate crimes involving Native American people, leaving families in pain and without answers. These injustices, compounded by institutional silence, are a betrayal of the communities and families you are entrusted to protect.
Illeanna’s story must serve as a catalyst for systemic reform and collaborative action. To that end, we respectfully urge you to consider the following measures:
Advocate for stronger collaboration between tribal and state law enforcement to ensure investigations are culturally competent, comprehensive, and informed by lived experiences.
Convene community dialogues or Tribal Council reviews to bring attention to
Illeanna’s case and its broader implications for justice in our community.
Address jurisdictional complexities under PL280 to ensure that systemic barriers do not hinder due process for Illeanna’s case or future cases.
Commit resources and attention to the ongoing crisis of MMIP, ensuring that Native lives are valued and treated with the urgency they deserve.
Justice for Illeanna is not only about uncovering the truth but also about promoting healing, accountability, and systemic change. It is about standing with families and communities in their pursuit of answers, dignity, and equity. Every Native American life matters. Every stolen sister deserves to be found, remembered, and honored. And every family, including Illeanna’s, deserves answers, truth, and healing.
We ask for your leadership and commitment to these efforts. Let Illeanna’s case be the beginning of meaningful change—not another story left in silence. Together, let us build a future where justice is not delayed or denied, but pursued with urgency and compassion. Stand with us. Fight for us. Bring justice to Lake County.
With strength and unity,
-Salvador Micheal Frease
Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. -Exodus 23:7