United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Child Abuse.
Rae Dawn Lunderman, age 28, was indicted on December 9, 2014. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Dec. 31, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $500 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on Aug. 11, 2013, Tyler Erickson and Lunderman unlawfully and with malice murdered and assaulted a human being who had not attained the age of 18 years old. The Indictment also alleges that between Aug. 1, 2013, and Aug. 10, 2013, Lunderman abused, exposed, tortured, and cruelly punished two children who had not attained the age of 7 years old.
The charges are merely accusations and Lunderman is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Lunderman was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for Feb. 24, 2015.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
