Missing Person: Robert Yarlott

The Apsaalooke, pertaining to “children of the large-beaked bird,” are commonly referred to as the Crow Tribe of Montana. With more than 7,300 people residing on the 2.3 million-acre Crow Reservation in Big Horn and Yellowstone Counties, the tribe has about 14,000 enrolled members. The Crow people had previously moved from the Ohio countryside to an area near the upper Missouri River, to their current settlement in northern Wyoming and southwestern Montana.

The tribe evolved to become a very influential and nomadic Plains tribe as they had attained horses in the 18th century, and became scouts for the American troops. However, the government had pushed them to surrender a major part of their 3.5 million-acre land that they received from the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. But the injustice faced by the tribe did not end here. Unfortunately, their land was not the only thing taken from them, but one of their own people as well.

Robert Thomas Yarlott, a 40-year-old enrolled member of the Crow Tribe of Montana, was reported missing to the authorities on May 7, 2024. His case is classified as Endangered Missing, as he suffers from multiple sclerosis — a medical condition wherein the individual has stiffened tissue or anatomical features. He was dressed in a light blue and white plaid button-down shirt, dark-colored trousers, gray and white Nike sneakers, and a navy blue and brown cotton woven jacket when he was last spotted. His last known location was at Teepee Service Inc. in Crow Agency, Montana.

He is described to be a male Native American between 5’7” and 6’1”, weighing 160-190 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. With his many tattoos, the prominent ones are illustrated to be the words “Ride-a-Tiger” on his abdomen, a large image of construction workers located on his chest, a tattoo of Jesus carrying a woman on his back, and a tribal band on his arm.

Currently, there is not much information regarding Yarlott’s disappearance. We continue to ask the public to please bring to light any and all information that they may have about his disappearance.

Kindly reach out to the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 406-657-5936 or the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office at 406-665-9780 if you have any knowledge of Robert Yarlott’s whereabouts.