Airman Charged with Murder in Death of Missing South Dakota Woman
Quinterius Charles Chappelle, a 24-year-old active-duty airman, has been formally charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of Sahela Toka Win Sangrait, a 21-year-old woman who had been reported missing since August 2024. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of South Dakota announced the charges on Monday, marking a significant development in the case that has gripped the local community and drawn attention to the broader issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Chappelle, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in western South Dakota at the time of the alleged crime, appeared in court on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty to the federal criminal complaint. The complaint accuses him of killing Sangrait on the base in August 2024. Authorities apprehended Chappelle on Friday.
The relationship between Chappelle and Sangrait remains unclear at this time, leaving many unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death. The lack of immediate clarity regarding their connection adds another layer of complexity to the investigation and underscores the need for a thorough examination of all available evidence.
Chappelle is currently being held at the Pennington County Jail, where he was booked on Friday. No bond has been set in the case, indicating the seriousness of the charges and the potential flight risk.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Chappelle faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a substantial $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release following his potential prison term, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The U.S. Attorneys Office has also indicated that the court may order restitution to Sangrait’s family, further acknowledging the profound loss and suffering they have endured.
U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell emphasized the collaborative effort of law enforcement professionals in swiftly pursuing the case, stating that the charge "reflects the dogged work of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals who seamlessly collaborated to run down every lead with absolute expediency and care." She conveyed her condolences to Sangrait’s family and friends, acknowledging their "agonizing months of searching for answers" and the tragic reality of her death.
Sangrait, a Native American woman from Box Elder, South Dakota, was last seen on August 10, 2024. According to a missing person poster circulated on social media, she was last known to be staying with a friend in Eagle Butte, approximately 156 miles northeast of Box Elder. She reportedly informed her friend that she would be traveling to Box Elder to retrieve some belongings and then intended to travel to California. However, she never arrived in California, and all contact ceased.
The discovery of Sangrait’s remains on March 4, 2024, marked a turning point in the search. A hiker found her body in an area south of Hill City, near the border between Pennington County and Custer County. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a "badly decomposed body" and initiated an investigation. On March 12, authorities officially identified the remains as Sangrait and confirmed that they were investigating the case as a homicide.
The investigation into Sangrait’s death involves a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The multi-agency approach reflects the complexity of the case and the commitment to bringing justice to Sangrait and her family.
The case has also drawn attention to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), a crisis that disproportionately affects Native American communities. South Dakota has a high number of missing Native Americans, with 59 cases currently listed in the state attorney general’s missing persons database. Of those cases, 36 involve women.
Native Americans face a significantly higher risk of experiencing violence, murder, or going missing, as highlighted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A 2023 survey conducted by the First Nations Development Institute identified missing and murdered Indigenous women as a primary concern within Native American communities.
Statistics from the National Crime Information Center in 2016 revealed over 5,700 reports of missing Native American women and girls. However, the non-profit Native Hope noted that only a small fraction of these cases, around 116, were logged in the U.S. Department of Justice’s missing person database, highlighting potential gaps in data collection and reporting.
Furthermore, a 2018 report from the Urban Indian Health Institute cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that murder is the third-leading cause of death among Native American women. The report also noted that rates of violence on reservations can be up to ten times higher than the national average. Despite the fact that approximately 71% of American Indian and Alaska Natives reside in urban areas, research on violence rates among this population remains limited.
Sangrait’s case serves as a stark reminder of the MMIW crisis and the urgent need for increased awareness, resources, and collaboration to address this pervasive issue. The ongoing investigation into her death underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to seeking justice for victims and their families, while also highlighting the broader challenges faced by Native American communities in combating violence and ensuring the safety and well-being of their members. The case remains active and ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather evidence and pursue leads to uncover the full circumstances surrounding Sangrait’s death.
The community is mourning the loss of Sahela Toka Win Sangrait and hopes that justice will be served.
