Ripped from the Womb: The Horrific Murder That Sparked a Movement
Twenty-two-year-old Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind was on the brink of motherhood, eagerly anticipating the arrival of her baby girl. But in August 2017, her dreams were brutally stolen. A member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, Savanna vanished from her apartment in Fargo, North Dakota. Nine days later, her body was discovered wrapped in plastic, floating in a river. The gruesome truth? Her unborn child had been cut from her womb.
The shocking crime sent waves of horror across the nation. It was her upstairs neighbor, Brooke Crews, who had lured Savanna into her apartment under false pretenses—only to kill her and forcibly take her baby. Crews pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Her boyfriend, William Hoehn, who helped cover up the crime, was sentenced to 20 years. Miraculously, Savanna’s daughter survived.
Mona Gable, author of Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many, spoke with A&E True Crime about this case—one that not only shattered a family but also shined a glaring light on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
A Targeted Attack Fueled by Racism?
Why was Savanna chosen? Many believe race played a role. According to Gable, Crews and Hoehn harbored deep-seated prejudice against Native Americans.
“They didn’t really know Savanna, but they didn’t like her family,” Gable explains. “There’s evidence that they were extremely racist. If Savanna had been white, I don’t think Crews would have had the guts to do this.”
It’s a disturbing possibility that underscores a harsh reality: Indigenous women are disproportionately targeted for violence, often with little attention or justice.
The Relentless Pursuit of Justice
Savanna’s family refused to let her case fade into the background. Their unwavering determination—combined with an outpouring of public support—kept the pressure on law enforcement.
“Fargo is a small town, and many people were horrified,” Gable recalls. “There was a groundswell of support. Marches, awareness campaigns—it forced law enforcement to act swiftly.”
The widespread media coverage was rare for a case involving a Native American woman. Too often, similar disappearances receive little to no attention, a painful reality that has long plagued Indigenous communities.
A Justice System That Fails Native Women
Savanna’s case was solved, but thousands of others remain cold. The reason? A fractured justice system where jurisdictional conflicts stall investigations and systemic racism dismisses victims as unimportant.
“Families press for answers, but cases don’t get investigated because of disagreements over who has authority,” Gable explains. “By the time law enforcement decides, crucial evidence is often lost.”
Native communities know this problem all too well. In many instances, local, state, and federal agencies argue over responsibility while families are left in agony.
Media Silence and the ‘Missing White Woman Syndrome’
When a white woman vanishes, headlines explode. But when a Native American woman goes missing, silence follows. The stark disparity is a grim reminder of the racial bias embedded in media coverage.
“A lot of reporters don’t have ties to Native communities, so they don’t cover these cases,” says Gable. “There’s also a widespread misconception that Native Americans are ‘gone’ or irrelevant in today’s society.”
Savanna’s case was an exception. It broke through the media’s blind spot, forcing a national conversation about missing and murdered Indigenous women.
A Legacy That Led to Change
Savanna’s tragic death ignited a movement. In 2020, Congress passed two critical laws: Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act. These laws aim to improve law enforcement response, increase funding, and create a commission dedicated to combating violence against Native communities.
“We’re finally seeing progress,” Gable notes. “There’s more awareness, and Native advocates are using social media to keep these cases in the public eye.”
Representation matters, too. With Native American leaders like Deb Haaland serving as U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Indigenous voices are finally being heard at the highest levels of government.
What More Needs to Be Done?
While laws and awareness are steps in the right direction, Native American advocates say much more is needed. Resources for domestic violence victims, better funding for tribal law enforcement, and stronger protections for Native women are just the beginning.
“This isn’t just about justice after the fact,” Gable emphasizes. “It’s about preventing these crimes in the first place—through shelters, transportation, healthcare, and childcare. Native women shouldn’t have to live in fear.”
Savanna’s murder was a tragedy, but her legacy lives on. The fight for justice continues—for her, and for the countless Indigenous women still missing, still unheard, still waiting to be found.
