The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations held an oversight hearing on November 21, 2024, focusing on the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. A significant portion of the discussion centered around the case of Cheyenne Toynita, a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, who was murdered in Nashville, Tennessee, in December 2015.

Cheyenne Toynita was found unresponsive outside a friend's home just days before Christmas. Reports indicate that she suffered blunt force trauma to her torso, and her death has been classified as a homicide. Nearly nine years later, her case remains unsolved, prompting the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to offer a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The hearing highlighted the challenges faced by Cheyenne's family, particularly her three daughters, in obtaining updates about the investigation. Communication improved only after Cheyenne's aunt, Brenda Toynida Pipestem, a justice on the Cherokee Supreme Court, reached out to former Senator Bill Frist for assistance.

Cheyenne's case is part of a larger issue, as she is one of 23 missing and murdered Indigenous women from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The hearing underscored the urgent need for better resources and support for families affected by this crisis, as well as the importance of addressing systemic issues that contribute to the violence against Indigenous women. The committee's discussions aim to bring attention to these unresolved cases and the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities.