Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A federal grand jury in Rapid City, South Dakota, returned an indictment charging airman Quinterius Charles Chappelle with first-degree murder. Chappelle, who is stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, is accused of killing Sahela Toka Win Sangrait on the base in August 2024. Sangrait's body was discovered last month in a wooded area near Hill City, South Dakota.
Chappelle, aged 24, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on March 28, 2025, and pleaded not guilty. The indictment alleges that Chappelle killed the victim with premeditation. The charge could result in life imprisonment or death, a fine of $250,000, five years of supervised release, and a mandatory contribution of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
Quinterius Chappelle requested release from custody pending trial, but the United States government sought his detention. The federal magistrate judge ordered that Chappelle be detained pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell expressed the office's commitment to pursuing the case, stating, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota will now proceed with the prosecution of this tragic case and relentlessly pursue justice on behalf of the victim.”
The investigation involves collaboration between multiple agencies, including the FBI, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Petersen and Benjamin Schroeder are leading the prosecution. Chappelle remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and a trial date has not yet been determined.
