• Quinterius Chappelle, a 24-year-old active-duty airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base, has been charged with the murder of 21-year-old Sahela Sangrait.
• Sangrait had been missing since August 2024, and her decomposed remains were discovered by a hiker in March 2025.
• The investigation reveals that Sangrait was allegedly killed on the military base where Chappelle was stationed.
• This case highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S.

On March 4, a hiker's discovery of human remains in South Dakota led to the identification of Sahela Sangrait, a 21-year-old Native American woman who had been missing since August 10, 2024. The active-duty airman charged with her murder, Quinterius Chappelle, 24, was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. He is facing federal charges for second-degree murder following an investigation that revealed Sangrait was allegedly killed on the base itself, a location situated near her hometown of Box Elder. Sangrait was reportedly last seen with a friend in Eagle Butte before planning to return to Box Elder to retrieve her belongings and subsequently travel to California. The Pennington County Sheriff's Office stated that there was no immediate clarity on the nature of the relationship between Sangrait and Chappelle, and the investigation into specifics around her death continues. According to a missing persons flyer, Sangrait's identity as a Native American woman is a significant aspect of this case, drawing attention to the alarming statistics regarding violence against Indigenous women. There are currently 59 active cases of missing Native Americans in South Dakota, with over half being women. The issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women has been described as a national crisis, with alarming statistics indicating that these communities face disproportionately high rates of violence and homicide. Chappelle, who has been with the U.S. Air Force since April 2019, was held at Pennington County Jail and had not yet appeared to secure legal representation. The investigation involves collaboration among various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit. Commander Col. Derek Oakley emphasized that the Air Force holds all personnel accountable for their actions, stating, "if service members are found in violation of military or civilian law, they will be punished." As this case develops, it underscores the urgent need for addressing the crisis facing Indigenous women and the demand for justice in cases of violence against them in the U.S.

Read more about this case at CBS News, HuffPost, and NPR.