Active Dutty Airman in South Dakota has been arrested on federal charges after authorities were allegedly murdered a missing Native American woman at a military base.
Quintaius Chappelle, 24, an Airmam Basic stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, is charged with two-degree murder after 21-year-old Sahela Toka won Sangrait.
Chapelle appeared before US Magistrate Judge Danetta L. Walman on Monday and pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges.
Sahela Toka Win Sangrait was found dead in 2024 after being reported missing to his family. (Facebook/Bernice White Swan)
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Authorities determined that Sanglait, who was reported to have disappeared on August 10, 2024, was “killed at the base in August 2024.”
However, her body was found earlier this month in a wooded area near Pennington and Custer counties.
Hikers in the area have found bodies that have been “badly disassembled,” according to a statement from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities alleges that the murder occurred at Ellsworth Air Force Base. (Ellsworth Air Force Base)
According to the agency, the agency had no “available identification information.” The cause of death has not been announced yet.
The Missing and Killing Unit (MMU) in India, which assisted in the investigation, confirmed with Fox News Digital that Sangrait is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe.
According to the Indian Affairs Bureau, MMU's victim services programme is supporting families as the investigation continues.
The Indian Affairs Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation supported the case. (India Issues Bureau)
Chapelle has been assigned to the 28th Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, where he is an aircraft inspection traveler, an Ellsworth AF official told Fox News Digital. He joined the service on April 30, 2019.
His disciplinary history, if present, is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Sahera's friends and family,” Colonel Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, wrote a statement to Fox News Digital. “We hold airmen accountable for their actions and if members of service are found in violation of military or civil law, they will be punished.
“We work closely with local law enforcement.”
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Chapelle is held by the former US Bureau of S at the Pennington County Jail in Rapid City, South Dakota. No trial dates are set.
Authorities allege that Sahera Sangreite was killed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. (Ellsworth Air Force Base)
“The accusation, filed just 10 days after the victim's body was found, reflects the stubborn work of federal, state and local law enforcement experts who have worked together seamlessly to run through every lead with absolute convenience and care.” “Under the criminal justice system, this accusation is merely accusation, and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty. The facts and evidence in this case will be filed before a federal judge and ju judge. At this point, our minds are seeking answers for months, which have been filled with many painful circumstances.
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Other agencies that supported the case include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Air Force Special Investigation Bureau, the Rapid City Police Department and the South Dakota Criminal Investigation Bureau.
FBI Minneapolis and the US Air Force Special Investigation Office did not respond immediately to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
