Missing Native American Woman Was Murdered On Air Force Base, Authorities Say

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Quinterius Chappelle, a 24-year-old airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, has been charged with the second-degree murder of 21-year-old Sahela Sangrait, a Native American woman who was reported missing in August 2022. Chappelle appeared in court on Monday, where he was informed of the charges against him. Details from the court documents remain sealed, but authorities indicate that the homicide took place on the airbase in western South Dakota.

Chappelle is currently represented by the federal defender's office, and he is being held at Pennington County Jail while he awaits further proceedings in federal court. A statement from Ellsworth Air Force Base confirmed Chappelle's role as an aircraft inspection journeyman in the 28th Maintenance Squadron, where he has served since April 2019. Col. Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, expressed condolences to Sangrait's family and emphasized that service members will be held accountable for violations of law.

Sangrait's body was discovered by a hiker on March 4, near the boundary between Pennington and Custer Counties. Her remains were found badly decomposed, leading investigators to believe she had been deceased for some time. Having been reported missing on August 10, the investigation into her disappearance had been ongoing for several months.

Originally from Box Elder, South Dakota, Sangrait had been staying with a friend in Eagle Butte and was intended to return to Box Elder to collect personal belongings before traveling to California. It remains unclear if she ever made it back to Box Elder, and authorities have not disclosed whether she had any prior connection to Chappelle.

The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of missing Native Americans in South Dakota, where over half of the 59 reported cases involve women. In response, federal and state task forces have been established to tackle cases of missing and murdered indigenous individuals across the nation. As the investigation continues, officials are committed to finding answers for Sangrait's family and the community.