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 had been missing for approximately seven months in South Dakota. Chappelle, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, made his initial court appearance on Monday, where court documents related to the case remain sealed. Authorities revealed that the murder occurred on the military base where Chappelle serves.

Chappelle, who is an aircraft inspection journeyman with the 28th Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth, is currently being held at the Pennington County Jail while being represented by the federal defender's office. The office declined to comment on his behalf. Colonel Derek Oakley, the commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, expressed condolences to Sangrait's family and emphasized the accountability of service members in any legal infractions.

Sangrait's body was discovered on March 4, near the border of Pennington and Custer counties, about seven months after she was reported missing on August 10. Officials noted that her remains were severely decomposed. Sangrait, who was from Box Elder, had been staying with a friend in Eagle Butte and was planning to return to gather belongings before heading to California.

The investigation into her disappearance and death falls within a troubling context, as South Dakota is experiencing a significant number of cases involving missing Native Americans, particularly women. According to the state's attorney general's database, there are currently 59 reported cases, sparking the formation of federal and state task forces aimed at addressing the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

As the case unfolds, inquiries sent to the U.S. attorney's office and the FBI were not promptly returned, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs referred questions back to the corresponding investigative agencies. The tragic circumstances surrounding Sangrait's case reflect deeper systemic issues affecting Native American communities in South Dakota and across the nation.