A U.S. Air Force airman stationed in South Dakota has been charged with the murder of a missing Native American woman on a military base. Quinterius Chappelle, 24, who serves as an Airman Basic at Ellsworth Air Force Base, is facing charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 21-year-old Sahela Toka Win Sangrait.
Chappelle appeared in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann and entered a plea of not guilty. Sangrait, who was reported missing by her family in August 2024, was discovered deceased earlier this month in a wooded area near the Pennington and Custer County line. Her body, which was in an advanced state of decomposition, was found by a hiker who then notified local authorities.
Investigators believe the murder took place on the base in August 2024. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is involved in the investigation, with the Bureau confirming Sangrait's membership in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The Bureau's Victim Services Program is providing support to her family during this difficult time.
Chappelle, who joined the Air Force in April 2019 and works as an aircraft inspection journeyman with the 28th Maintenance Squadron, is currently held at the Pennington County Jail. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Col. Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, expressed condolences to Sangrait's family and emphasized the Air Force's commitment to accountability. U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in bringing the charge against Chappelle, while noting that he remains innocent until proven guilty in court.
The investigation has seen cooperation from multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and local police departments.