PHOENIX (AZFamily) — About 1,400 children remain in Arizona group homes despite state efforts to reduce those numbers, according to the latest report from the state’s Department of Child Safety.

Group homes have faced increased scrutiny following the murders of two teens, Zariah Dodd and Emily Pike.

Pike, 14, lived on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in southeastern Arizona for most of her life before being placed in a Mesa group home. She was murdered and dismembered nine months ago, and her killer remains at large.

“Everybody feels the pain, what happened to her,” Pike’s uncle said. “We just don’t want her to be another statistic.”

Emily’s story

Pike’s aunt, Carolyn Bender, said she’s haunted by the loss and the fact that her killer is still out there.

“I cry myself to sleep some

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