Box Elder: A U.S. Air Force member has been arrested for the murder of a missing South Dakota woman.
Sahela Sangrait, 21, vanished in August 2023 before her remains were found by a hiker in March.
Investigators determined she was killed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, near the town of Box Elder.
Authorities charged Quinterius Chappelle, an active-duty airman, with second-degree murder in her death.
He is currently being held at Pennington County Jail for the U.S. Marshals Service.
Investigation Findings
The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case, according to officials.
Ellsworth Air Force Base has not yet responded to inquiries about the arrest.
Chappelle, an aircraft inspection journeyman, joined the U.S. Air Force in 2019.
Sangrait was last seen in Eagle Butte, 150 miles northeast of Ellsworth base.
She had planned to pick up belongings in Box Elder before heading to California.
Missing Person Case
Sangrait stopped responding to messages after leaving Eagle Butte in August.
A missing persons poster described her as Native American.
Her case highlights a larger issue of violence against Indigenous women in the U.S.
Native American women face disproportionately high rates of murder and disappearances.
Many cases remain unsolved, prompting calls for urgent action from advocacy groups.
National Crisis
In 2016, over 5,700 Native women and girls were reported missing.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs says around 4,200 Indigenous cases remain unsolved today.
South Dakota alone has dozens of currently missing Indigenous women.
This issue has been labeled a crisis by Indigenous rights groups.
Authorities stress the need for more resources to address these disappearances.
Ongoing Legal Process
Chappelle’s arrest marks a major development in Sangrait’s case.
Authorities continue gathering evidence while the prosecution prepares for trial.
Sangrait’s family seeks justice for their loved one.
The case remains under federal jurisdiction due to the military connection.
Officials urge anyone with information to come forward to aid the investigation.
