An airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Quinterius Charles Chappelle, 24, has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Sahela Toka Win Sangrait, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota announced on Monday.
According to court documents, Chappelle is accused of killing Sangrait in August 2024 at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Her body was found earlier this month in a wooded area south of Hill City, near the Pennington-Custer county line in South Dakota.
“This charge, filed just 10 days after the victim’s remains were discovered, reflects the dedicated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals who collaborated to investigate every lead with urgency and thoroughness,” said Alison Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota.
Ramsdell added, “Under the criminal justice system, this charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The facts of this case will be presented before a federal judge and jury. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, who, after many months of searching for answers, are now mourning the loss of their loved one.”
Chappelle was ordered into U.S. Marshals Service custody while awaiting trial, which has not yet been scheduled. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann in Rapid City. If convicted, Chappelle faces life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
