Overview

Last seen: Early October 2020 — Belcourt, North Dakota, on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. Public records differ between October 3 and October 6, with some family/community material giving October 6 or 7.

Circumstances: Longie was reported last seen walking away from his Belcourt residence. His disappearance was initially treated publicly as a missing-person case, but the FBI later announced that investigative information led authorities to believe foul play contributed to his disappearance and presumed death.

Main points: Family members have organized repeated searches; numerous tips have reportedly been investigated; the FBI offered a reward of up to $5,000; Longie has not publicly been reported located; and the current North Dakota missing-person registry continues to list the BIA Turtle Mountain Agency as the investigating agency.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Steven Roger Longie Missing from Belcourt, North Dakota: Disappearance, Presumed Death and Ongoing Investigation

Article

Steven Roger Longie Disappeared from Belcourt in October 2020

Steven “Steve” Roger Longie disappeared from Belcourt, North Dakota, on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in October 2020. Early reporting from KFYR-TV said investigators believed Longie was last seen walking away from his residence in Belcourt. At the time, he was described as approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall and 170 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

There is a discrepancy among public records concerning the exact date he was last seen. The current North Dakota Missing Persons database lists October 3, 2020, while NamUs indexing identifies his date of last contact as October 6, 2020. Family and community posts have also described the date as October 6 or 7. Because of these conflicting records, early October 2020 is the safest general description of when Longie disappeared.

The Search for Steve Longie

Longie’s disappearance became publicly reported in December 2020 when the Rolette County Sheriff’s Office asked for help locating him. Authorities directed anyone with information to either the sheriff’s office or Belcourt Police Department.

His family continued searching long after the initial missing-person alert. By 2022, Longie’s son, Aaron Longie, said family members, the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs and local law enforcement had followed up on approximately 30 to 40 tips concerning his father’s disappearance. Some tips involved disturbing claims about what might have happened, but the family emphasized that rumors were being checked rather than accepted as fact.

A family-organized search conducted July 15–17, 2022, covered areas around Belcourt but did not locate Longie. Searchers examined land and waterways, and additional searches were planned. His son said the searches also helped establish new contacts and a network for sharing information.

FBI Says Foul Play Is Suspected

The case took a significant turn in November 2021 when the FBI publicly announced that investigators had reasons to believe foul play contributed to Longie’s disappearance and presumed death.

The FBI offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible. Federal authorities asked anyone with information to contact the FBI.

That announcement changed the public characterization of the case from simply a missing-person investigation to one in which federal investigators believed a crime likely played a role. Authorities have not publicly explained the evidence that led them to that conclusion.

Family Continues Seeking Answers

Longie’s family has repeatedly sought public attention for the case. In 2022, his son said his father would not normally remain away from his family for such an extended period and appealed to anyone with information to come forward so the family could finally have answers.

Public posts made in 2023 by someone identifying themselves as Longie’s grandchild continued asking for resources and ways to generate attention for the case. Those posts repeated the family’s desire either to locate Longie or determine what happened to him. Such community posts are not law-enforcement findings, but they demonstrate that the family was still actively seeking information years after his disappearance.

Latest Publicly Available Case Information

As of August 27, 2026, Steven Longie remains listed in North Dakota’s current Missing Persons database. The state identifies the BIA Turtle Mountain Agency as the investigating agency and provides 701-477-6134 as the contact number. The database currently lists him as an American Indian male and shows a last-seen date of October 3, 2020.

A NamUs record for Longie, MP83337, is also currently active. NamUs shows that the federal database record was created on May 7, 2026, providing a relatively recent addition to the publicly accessible case records.

I did not find a newer verified public announcement identifying an arrest, named suspect, recovery of Longie’s remains, or resolution of the case. The most significant publicly disclosed investigative conclusion therefore remains the FBI’s statement that it has investigative reasons to believe foul play contributed to Longie’s disappearance and presumed death.

Very Brief Case Summary

Last seen: Early October 2020 — Belcourt, North Dakota, on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. Public records differ between October 3 and October 6, with some family/community material giving October 6 or 7.

Circumstances: Longie was reported last seen walking away from his Belcourt residence. His disappearance was initially treated publicly as a missing-person case, but the FBI later announced that investigative information led authorities to believe foul play contributed to his disappearance and presumed death.

Main points: Family members have organized repeated searches; numerous tips have reportedly been investigated; the FBI offered a reward of up to $5,000; Longie has not publicly been reported located; and the current North Dakota missing-person registry continues to list the BIA Turtle Mountain Agency as the investigating agency.