Sahela Sangrait

📍 Location

📝 Description

Sahela Sangrait, a 21-year-old Native American woman from Box Elder, South Dakota, vanished in August 2024 after staying with a friend in Eagle Butte and planning to retrieve belongings in Box Elder before heading to California. Her badly decomposed remains were found March 4, 2025 in a wooded area near Hill City, at the Pennington–Custer county line, and investigators concluded she was murdered on Ellsworth Air Force Base. An Ellsworth-based airman, Quinterius Chappelle, 24, was arrested in March 2025 and charged with second-degree murder in Sangrait’s death; in April 2025 a federal grand jury indicted him on first-degree murder, and he has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed pending trial. In June 2025, a second person, Drew Durand, 24, was charged with accessory after the fact and misprision of a felony in connection with the murder. The investigation involves the FBI, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit. The case drew attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People issues in the region.

🔍 Circumstances

Sangrait disappeared in August 2024 after indicating she would return to Box Elder from Eagle Butte to collect belongings; her body was discovered by a hiker on March 4, 2025 near Hill City. Autopsy described the remains as badly decomposed; reports mention two male DNA under her fingernails. Investigators determined the murder occurred on Ellsworth Air Force Base, leading to federal prosecution; Chappelle was arrested in March 2025 and charged with murder, with a First Degree Murder indictment issued in April 2025. In June 2025, Drew Durand was charged with accessory after the fact and misprision of a felony. The investigation is a multi-agency effort including the FBI, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, AFOSI, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit.

👤 Physical Description

Remains were badly decomposed; identity confirmed as Sahela Sangrait; autopsy reportedly noted two different male DNA under fingernails; public details on her physical appearance beyond age category are limited.

ℹ️ Additional Details

Quinterius Chappelle charged with second-degree murder (Mar 17, 2025) and later indicted for first-degree murder (Apr 4, 2025); pleaded not guilty (Mar 28, 2025) and remains jailed pending trial. A second suspect, Drew Durand, charged in June 2025 with accessory after the fact and misprision of a felony. Investigations involve multiple agencies and underscore concerns around violence against Indigenous women in the region.

🔗 Sources (14)

👥 Community Contributions

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