A man previously convicted of murder and granted parole by former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is now facing charges related to the death of his 14-year-old niece. Mark Milk, who had his manslaughter sentence reduced in 2023 after nearly 30 years in prison, was indicted following the suspected cocaine overdose of McKenna Wendell on March 13, the day after she was reported missing.
McKenna’s body was found on March 19 in a remote area near Brookings, approximately 90 miles from Sioux Falls, her hometown.
FBI Special Agent Gene Cowell described the situation as “horrific,” emphasizing that cases involving children are particularly tragic. He expressed condolences to McKenna’s family during a press conference.
At the time of the discovery, Milk was in custody for an unrelated DUI charge, but he was already identified as a suspect throughout the ongoing investigation.
The 51-year-old faces multiple charges, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine, transporting a minor for sexual offenses, and conspiracy to destroy evidence. Another suspect, identified as 38-year-old John Rogness, has also been charged with conspiracy and aiding in the alleged cover-up.
Milk was initially sentenced to 240 years in prison for a fatal stabbing during a fight in 1993. Noem, while serving as governor, commuted Milk’s sentence, allowing him to become eligible for parole this year.
It’s unclear when Milk was released from prison. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley stated that the decision to grant Milk commutation was solely up to Noem, explaining that the relevant documents had been sealed and law enforcement provided a report on the original manslaughter case.
Noem has recently been serving as a Special Envoy for the Americas since being removed from her previous role as Secretary of Homeland Security.
