Family of actress Misty Upham raises questions about police during vigil

AUBURN - The vigil for 32 year old Misty Upham was filled with Native American songs and prayers.

“It’s uplifting in this time of sorrow to see so much support and compassion, an outpouring of love and concern,” says Misty’s father, Charles Upham.

Many of the mourners were strangers to the young actress. But they knew of her work in movies like “Django Unchained” and “August: Osage County.”

“She represented all Native Americans with what she did and her accomplishments.”

Upham’s family wants to focus on those accomplishments, but they still have lingering questions about her death. They say she accidentally fell down a steep cliff, trying to run away from police.

In a post of Facebook Friday, the family said “Misty was afraid of the Auburn PD officers with good reason. In an incident prior to her disappearance, the Auburn PD came to pick up Misty on an involuntary transport to the ER. She was cuffed and placed in a police car.”

“They was taunting her and disrespecting her,” says Robert Upham, Misty’s uncle. “I don’t want to talk about all that.”

“It’s like tearing open an old wound every time we have to say it,” her father adds.

Q13 Fox News asked Auburn Police about the family’s allegations, but were told they had no comment today.

On Friday, Commander Steve Stocker said, “I am not aware from any of our reports that Misty was having problems with anybody.”

Upham’s family says she struggled with mental health issues. They hope changes are made, so others don’t have to suffer the way she did.

“She tried to get help with that, and the door was closed on her. The system itself failed her in a lot of ways, and we’re going to try and improve upon that.”