HILL CITY, SD – A member of the U.S. Air Force has been charged with the murder of a 21-year-old woman who had been reported missing for months in South Dakota, authorities disclosed. The suspect, 24-year-old Quinterius Chappelle, faces second-degree murder charges following the discovery of Sahela “Shy” Sangrait’s remains by a hiker near Hill City on March 4.
Sangrait had been missing since August 10, 2024, and was found deceased in a severely decomposed state, complicating immediate identification efforts. Investigators later confirmed the remains as those of Sangrait, attributing the likely location of her murder to Ellsworth Air Force Base, thus placing the crime under federal jurisdiction.
Chappelle, held initially at Pennington County Jail, is now under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, pending further legal proceedings. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with several federal agencies including the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, played instrumental roles in the apprehension of the suspect.
Prosecution of the case will be handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, highlighting the gravity and inter-agency collaboration typical of cases involving military personnel and federal lands.
Sangrait, originally from Eagle Butte, had reportedly planned to travel to Box Elder to retrieve personal belongings from a residence near the base as part of a trip to California. The circumstances of whether she reached her destination remain uncertain.
Col. Derek Oakley, commander at Ellsworth Air Force Base, conveyed his sympathies to Sangrait’s family and affirmed the military’s stance on accountability. “Our thoughts are with Sahela’s family and friends at this difficult time. It is our duty to ensure that all service members adhere to both military and civilian laws,” Oakley stated.
Amidst these developments, Sangrait’s family voiced frustrations about the purported initial inaction by local authorities concerning her disappearance. They have since initiated a GoFundMe page to manage funeral expenses and highlight their concerns, citing a pattern of neglect in handling missing persons reports involving indigenous individuals.
The connection, if any, between Chappelle and Sangrait has not been illuminated by officials, yet the narrative surrounding her disappearance is refocusing attention on the challenges faced by missing indigenous persons in the area. Sangrait’s Native American heritage adds to the complexity and sensitivities surrounding the investigation and subsequent discourse.
This case not only underscores the need for diligent and timely law enforcement response but also beckons a broader reflection on the systemic challenges and disparities experienced by minority communities, particularly indigenous peoples in similar contexts.
As the legal process unfolds, the community and Sangrait’s loved ones seek not only justice for her tragic demise but also a reassessment of mechanisms in place to prevent such grievances and foster a more responsive and inclusive approach in the future. The ongoing investigation offers a crucial juncture for examining and potentially rectifying the protocols involved in such serious allegations.