Missoula, MT – A man has been charged in connection with the tragic death of 16-year-old Selena Not Afraid, who disappeared on January 1, 2020, after attending a New Year’s Eve party in Billings. Robert Alvin Morning-Bromley III, 33, has been charged with two counts of felony criminal endangerment in Big Horn County District Court. The charges stem from allegations that Morning-Bromley left Not Afraid and another adult at a rest stop off Interstate 90 in frigid conditions, despite knowing they were both heavily intoxicated and not properly dressed for the weather.
According to court documents, Morning-Bromley was driving a van that was transporting Not Afraid, the adult, and several others from Billings to Hardin on the morning of January 1, 2020. During the trip, the group had been consuming large amounts of alcohol, including Black Velvet whiskey. At one point, Morning-Bromley encountered mechanical issues with the vehicle’s water pump, forcing him to stop at various points along the route.
At around 2 p.m. on January 1, Morning-Bromley and the group arrived at a closed rest area along I-90, where the defendant reportedly pulled into the area by bypassing a gate. At this point, Not Afraid and the adult exited the van, despite their inebriated state and the freezing temperatures. Neither was appropriately dressed for the weather—Not Afraid was without a jacket, and the adult did not have shoes on.
Morning-Bromley allegedly instructed the pair to get back into the vehicle, but they refused. Instead of calling authorities or seeking help, Morning-Bromley left the rest stop, leaving the two individuals behind. He did, however, contact his mother, who was traveling behind him, asking her to stop and pick up the two. When she arrived, she found the adult at the rest stop but was told that Not Afraid had run off toward a nearby field.
After honking the horn in an attempt to locate Not Afraid, the mother left the scene. It wasn’t until she reached Hardin that she informed Morning-Bromley of the situation, to which he reportedly responded indifferently, stating he didn’t know the individuals and referring to them in derogatory terms.
Not Afraid’s disappearance prompted a massive search effort, which included law enforcement and volunteers. Her body was discovered on January 20, 2020, about 1.5 miles from the rest stop where she had last been seen. Authorities later determined that Not Afraid died from hypothermia, though the exact circumstances surrounding her death remained unclear for months.
The case garnered national attention, drawing increased focus on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons movement, as Not Afraid was a member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. Her family, including her aunt Cheryl Horn, expressed shock and grief over the discovery of the charges against Morning-Bromley, confirming that the victim in the case was indeed Selena Not Afraid.
Morning-Bromley’s felony charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. He is accused of knowingly leaving two intoxicated individuals in an unsafe environment, creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. The investigation into Not Afraid’s death remained open for several years, with law enforcement continuing to gather information before filing charges.
The case continues to highlight the dangers faced by Indigenous individuals, particularly women, and the systemic challenges within law enforcement when investigating cases involving Native American communities. Not Afraid’s family and advocates have vowed to keep fighting for justice, as her story remains a focal point in the broader movement to address the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons in the United States.
