Background

• Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind was a 22-year-old woman from the Spirit Lake Nation.
• She lived in Fargo, North Dakota.
• At the time of her disappearance, she was eight months pregnant with her first child.

August 19, 2017

• Surveillance footage captured Savanna entering a neighboring apartment inside her Fargo apartment building.
• She was reportedly helping neighbor Brooke Crews with a sewing project.
• This became the last confirmed sighting of Savanna alive.

August 20, 2017

• Family members reported Savanna missing after she failed to answer calls or messages.
• Her family immediately expressed concern because she was near full-term pregnancy and maintained close contact with relatives.

August 21 to August 23, 2017

• Volunteers organized searches across Fargo.
• Flyers spread rapidly on social media.
• Community members pressured authorities for stronger public alerts and media coverage.

August 24, 2017

• Police discovered a newborn baby inside the apartment of neighbors Brooke Crews and William Hoehn.
• Authorities determined the infant was Savanna’s child.
• Investigators quickly obtained search warrants and sealed off the apartment complex.

Investigation Findings

• Prosecutors later alleged Brooke Crews lured Savanna into the apartment under false pretenses.
• Crews allegedly removed Savanna’s baby from her womb during a violent attack.
• Authorities alleged Savanna was strangled with a rope before her body was wrapped in plastic.

August 27, 2017

• Authorities recovered Savanna’s body in the Red River north of Fargo.
• The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.

Charges Filed

Brooke Crews was charged with:

• Murder
• Kidnapping
• Giving false information

William Hoehn was charged with:

• Conspiracy
• Providing false information

2018

• Brooke Crews pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy charges.
• She admitted to killing Savanna and abducting the baby.
• Crews received life in prison without parole.

2019

• William Hoehn was initially convicted for his role in the crime.
• However, the North Dakota Supreme Court later overturned his conviction due to insufficient evidence tied directly to the homicide conspiracy.

National Impact

• Savanna’s murder received nationwide media attention.
• The case led to renewed discussion regarding:
• Violence against Indigenous women
• Media disparities in missing persons coverage
• Protection of pregnant women
• Indigenous victim advocacy

Legislative Impact

• “Savanna’s Act” was introduced in Congress following her murder.
• The legislation aimed to improve:
• Missing Indigenous persons data collection
• Law enforcement coordination
• Tribal communication systems
• Federal response protocols

October 10, 2020

• President Donald Trump signed Savanna’s Act into law.
• The law became one of the most significant federal reforms connected to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People investigations in U.S. history.