Airman charged with murder of missing woman in South Dakota

An active-duty airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota has been charged with second-degree murder. Quinterius Chappelle, 24, is accused of killing 21-year-old Sahela Toka Win Sangrait, a Native American woman who was reported missing in August 2024. Chappelle appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Sangrait's body was found earlier this month in a wooded area after being missing for months. Authorities believe she was murdered on the base in August. The cause of death has not been released yet. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, along with other federal and local agencies, assisted in the investigation. Sangrait was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and her family is being supported by victim services. Chappelle is assigned to the 28th Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth. He has been in the Air Force since April 2019. His history is protected by privacy laws. A trial date for Chappelle has not yet been set. Officials are working closely with local law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell noted that the charge against Chappelle is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation into Sangrait's death continues.