South Dakota airman charged in killing of woman missing since August

A 24-year-old airman, Quinterius Chappelle, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death 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, and while the details within the court documents remain sealed, authorities report that Sangrait was killed in August at the Ellsworth Air Force Base, where Chappelle was stationed.

Chappelle is facing prosecution in federal court and is currently represented by the federal defender's office, which declined to comment on his case. He is detained at the Pennington County Jail and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If found guilty, Chappelle could face a life sentence in prison due to the severity of the allegations.

Sangrait's remains were discovered on March 4 by a hiker near the borders of Pennington and Custer County, after she was reported missing on August 10. Authorities have stated that her body was significantly decomposed, and the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. There is no information available regarding whether Sangrait and Chappelle were acquainted before the incident.

Originally from Box Elder, where the Ellsworth base is located, Sangrait had reportedly been staying with a friend in Eagle Butte and planned to return to Box Elder before heading to California. Whether she ever made it back to Box Elder remains unknown.

The case highlights a broader issue, as there are currently 59 reported cases of missing Native Americans in South Dakota, more than half of whom are women. In response to this crisis, federal and state task forces have been established to investigate cases of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals across the nation.