TULALIP—The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the FBI Seattle Field Office and the Tulalip Police Department, announced Friday, October 31, that human skeletal remains discovered in a remote wooded area of North Snohomish County have been positively identified as those of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, a 44-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribes who vanished on November 25, 2020.
Johnson-Davis was last seen walking along Fire Trail Road—also known as 140th Street—on the Tulalip Reservation after sending a text message to a friend stating she was “almost to the church” and arranging a ride to Arlington. She was reported missing by her husband on December 9, 2020.
The remains were located on June 13, 2025, in a heavily forested, off-road section near the northern boundary of the reservation, accessible only by foot or off-road vehicle. DNA analysis conducted by the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, in conjunction with the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), confirmed the match to Johnson-Davis.
“With deep respect for the family and Tulalip community, the Tulalip Police Department is heartbroken to confirm that human remains have been positively identified as Mary Johnson-Davis, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington,” said Shawn V. Ledford, Chief of the Tulalip Police Department. “Identification was confirmed through DNA analysis conducted by a forensic laboratory, and next of kin have been notified. This case remains an active and ongoing investigation, and the Tulalip Police Department will continue to work in partnership with the family and the FBI. Mary’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the community for their assistance and compassion throughout the past five years of searching for Mary, which ultimately led to her being found. We extend our prayers, strength, and healing to Mary’s family, loved ones, and the entire Tulalip community during this difficult time.”
Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson echoed the sentiment, noting that community tips were instrumental in locating the site.
“We recognize that the past five years have been incredibly difficult and painful for Mary’s family as well as our neighbors and partners at the Tulalip Police Department, the entire community, and the staff who have worked tirelessly to find her,” said Snohomish County Sheriff Johnson. “We hope the recovery brings us one step closer to finding the truth about what happened to Mary. I want to extend my personal condolences to Mary’s entire family and to the Tulalip Tribes, and express our deep appreciation to community members whose initial reporting led to the discovery and identification of her remains.”
The cause and manner of death are currently undetermined, pending further forensic examination. The case has been officially classified as a homicide investigation, with the Tulalip Police Department leading the inquiry alongside federal and county partners.
No suspects have been identified. A standing reward of up to $60,000—$10,000 from the Tulalip Tribes and $50,000 from the FBI—remains available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individual responsible.
Johnson-Davis’s disappearance garnered renewed attention through the 2024 documentary Missing From Fire Trail Road, which examined her case within the broader context of missing and murdered Indigenous women. At the time of her disappearance, she had recently received a $400,000 settlement related to childhood trauma sustained in foster care.
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Tulalip Police Department at (360) 716-5918 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Author: Mario Lotmore
