Airman charged in killing of Native American woman who went missing 7 months ago in South Dakota

A 24-year-old airman, Quinterius Chappelle, has been charged with the second-degree murder of Sahela Sangrait, a 21-year-old Native American woman who went missing in South Dakota approximately seven months ago. Chappelle made his initial court appearance on Monday, with the case's court documents sealed. Authorities have stated that Sangrait was killed at the Ellsworth Air Force Base, where Chappelle is stationed.

Chappelle is being prosecuted in federal court and is represented by the federal defender's office, although no comments have been made on his behalf. He is currently being held at the Pennington County Jail. Serving as an aircraft inspection journeyman in the 28th Maintenance Squadron since April 2019, Chappelle's actions have sparked responses from military leadership, emphasizing accountability for service members.

Sangrait's body was discovered on March 4 near the Pennington and Custer County lines after she was reported missing on August 10. Her remains were in a severely decomposed state, which has raised concerns and further investigations into her disappearance. The authorities have yet to disclose whether there was any prior connection between Sangrait and Chappelle.

Originally from Box Elder, South Dakota, just a short distance from Ellsworth base, Sangrait had reportedly been staying with a friend in Eagle Butte. She was planning to return to Box Elder for belongings before possibly heading to California. Unfortunately, it remains uncertain if she ever made it back.

Sangrait's case highlights a broader issue of missing Indigenous persons in South Dakota, where there are currently 59 reported cases, over half of them involving women. In response to this crisis, state and federal task forces have been established to address the alarming trend of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals.