Tina Marie Finley

Case Information:

Tina Marie Finley was 25 years old when she vanished under highly suspicious circumstances from the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation in Benewah County, Idaho, on the night of March 8, 1988. The young Indigenous woman, a registered member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, disappeared after a rainy evening out with friends near the rural communities of Tensed and Plummer.

Though decades have passed, law enforcement officials and tribal authorities continue to suspect foul play. The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office actively handles her case as part of their dedicated focus on the national Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis.

Case Details:

On the night she vanished, Tina spent time playing pool at a Plummer establishment, attended a birthday party in Tensed, and eventually visited the local Circle H Saloon. An acquaintance later reported giving her a ride toward Plummer, claiming he dropped her off approximately a quarter-mile from her residence.

A torrential downpour blanketed the reservation that night, heavily complicating early efforts to locate physical evidence or reconstruct her movements. Troubling discoveries soon followed when her scattered personal belongings, including her purse, identification card, and shoes, were found discarded on the side of U.S. Highway 95.

Timeline of Events:

• March 8, 1988: Tina spends the evening socializing at local spots, including a Tensed birthday party and the Circle H Saloon, before accepting a ride home.
• March 9, 1988: Tina’s sister, Marlene, experiences a sudden chill during a college microbiology class, which she later interprets as a spiritual sign of Tina’s passing.
• March 10, 1988: Tina’s purse, identification card, and shoes are recovered by the side of U.S. Highway 95.
• Spring 1988: Authorities discover additional personal belongings inside an abandoned home and vehicle in DeSmet, while her gray jacket is recovered from a residence in Plummer.
• March 8, 1989: Exactly one year after the disappearance, Marlene experiences a detailed dream depicting Tina being beaten to death by several male attackers in a clearing.

Investigation:

The Benewah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs initially spearheaded the probe, questioning multiple individuals. While the driver who gave Tina a ride reportedly passed a polygraph test, investigators identified two other unnamed local suspects who reportedly failed polygraph exams.

Over the years, numerous physical searches were conducted, including dive operations in a remote backroad pond in 1991 and the examination of a grave-shaped pit in McCroskey State Park in 1992. Investigators believe she was abducted and murdered near Tensed, but the lack of physical evidence and her missing body have stalled formal prosecution.

Community Response:

The disappearance of Tina Marie Finley profoundly impacted the close-knit Coeur d’Alene Tribe. For over thirty years, tribal members have held vigils, kept her image visible, and united in demanding justice for a case that is widely considered an “open secret” on the reservation.

Her case serves as a poignant local symbol of the larger MMIW crisis across North America. Community advocates continue to push for improved jurisdictional cooperation between local, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Family Statements:

Tina’s family split up due to early hardships with alcoholism, placing Tina in foster homes from which she eventually ran away before finding peace living with her uncle, Felix Aripa. Prior to her disappearance, she had found stability, was working hard, and was actively planning to enroll at North Idaho College.

Her family eventually had her declared legally dead to seek a sense of peace, though they have never surrendered their fight for the truth. Her sister, Marlene Justice, and extended relatives continue to pressure authorities to act on existing leads.

Physical Appearance:

Tina Marie Finley is a Native American female who was 25 years old at the time of her disappearance. She stands 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed approximately 135 pounds, and has dark brown hair and brown eyes.

On the night she vanished, she was wearing a gray jacket, brown slacks, and high-heeled shoes. Her gray jacket was later recovered by investigators at a residence in Plummer.

Current Status:

Tina’s case remains an active cold case investigation under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with tribal police. The FBI is currently offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to her location or the conviction of those responsible.

Despite several promising leads, no arrests have ever been made. Investigators remain confident that individuals living on or near the reservation possess the information needed to close the case.

Contact Information:

Anyone with any information regarding the disappearance of Tina Marie Finley is urged to call the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office at 801-579-6636 or the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department at 208-686-2099.

Tips may also be directed to the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office at 208-245-2555.

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