Active-duty US airman charged in killing of missing woman on military base

A South Dakota active-duty airman was arrested connected national charges aft authorities accidental helium allegedly murdered a missing Native American pistillate connected a subject base.

Quinterius Chappelle, 24, an Airman Basic stationed astatine Ellsworth Air Force Base, is charged with second-degree execution successful the decease of 21-year-old Sahela Toka Win Sangrait.

Chappelle appeared earlier U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann connected Monday and pleaded not blameworthy to a national transgression complaint.

Sahela Toka Win Sangrait was recovered dormant aft being reported missing by household successful 2024. (Facebook / Bernice White Swan)

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Authorities determined that Sangrait, who was reported missing connected Aug. 10, 2024, "was murdered connected the basal sometime successful August 2024."

However, her remains were recovered earlier this period successful a wooded country adjacent the Pennington and Custer County line.

A hiker successful the country discovered a "badly decomposed" body, which was aboriginal learned to beryllium the Box Elder woman, and called deputies, according to a connection from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities allege the execution occurred astatine Ellsworth Air Force Base. (Ellsworth Air Force Base)

The assemblage did not person immoderate "identifying accusation available," the bureau said. The origin of decease has not yet been released.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU), which assisted successful the investigation, confirmed to Fox News Digital that Sangrait was a subordinate of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

The MMU’s Victim Services Program is assisting the household arsenic the probe continues, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with the case. (Bureau of Indian Affairs)

Chappelle is assigned to the 28th Maintenance Squadron astatine Ellsworth Air Force Base, wherever helium is an craft inspection journeyman, Ellsworth AFB officials told Fox News Digital. He entered the work connected April 30, 2019.

His disciplinary history, if successful existence, is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.

"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and household of Sahela," Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander, wrote successful a connection to Fox News Digital. "We clasp Airmen accountable for their actions, and if work members are recovered successful usurpation of subject oregon civilian law, they volition beryllium punished. 

"We are moving intimately with the country instrumentality enforcement agencies."

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Chappelle is being held by the U.S. Marshals Service astatine the Pennington County Jail successful Rapid City, South Dakota. A proceedings day has not been set.

Authorities allege that Sahela Sangrait was killed astatine Ellsworth Air Force Base. (Ellsworth Air Force Base)

"This charge, filed conscionable 10 days aft the victim’s remains were discovered, reflects the dogged enactment of federal, state, and section instrumentality enforcement professionals who seamlessly collaborated to tally down each pb with implicit expediency and care," said Alison Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. "Under the transgression justness system, this complaint is simply an accusation, and the suspect is guiltless until proven guilty; the facts and grounds successful this lawsuit volition beryllium litigated earlier a national justice and jury. At this time, our hearts are with the victim’s household and friends, who, aft galore agonizing months of searching for answers, are present grieving the tragic decease of their loved one."

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Other agencies that assisted with the lawsuit see the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Rapid City Police Department and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

FBI Minneapolis and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations did not instantly respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.