U.S. Air Pressure Airman Charged with Homicide of S.D. Lady Discovered by Hiker

A member of the U.S. Air Pressure has been arrested and charged in reference to the homicide of Sahela Sangrait, whose physique was found almost seven months after she was first reported lacking.

The investigation into Sangrait’s dying — which started earlier this month after a hiker discovered her physique in an space south of Hill Metropolis, S.D. — led authorities to arrest Quinterius Chappelle, an active-duty airman at present stationed at Ellsworth Air Pressure Base within the state. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Workplace (PCSO) introduced the arrest on Fb on Saturday, March 15.

Chappelle, 24, was arrested on federal fees for second-degree homicide, in accordance with the PCSO. He was booked into Pennington County Jail on Friday, March 14, at 11:41 p.m. native time, per jail data considered by PEOPLE. 

In the identical replace, the PCSO additionally stated that investigators have decided that Sangrait was murdered on the South Dakota Air Pressure base. And, “as a result of jurisdiction of the crime, the case can be prosecuted by the US Lawyer’s Workplace,” police stated.

The PCSO additionally stated the investigation was a collaborative effort between native, state and federal legislation enforcement, together with the Fast Metropolis Police Division, South Dakota Division of Felony Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Lacking and Murdered Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Air Pressure Workplace of Particular Investigations.

It isn’t instantly clear whether or not Chappelle has authorized illustration to touch upon his behalf.

The South Dakota sheriff’s workplace stated that authorities had recognized the stays of Sangrait and formally introduced that the case was being investigated as a murder on Wednesday, March 12.

The identification got here a couple of week after a hiker first found the stays and reported them to police with a name a couple of “badly decomposed physique” on March 4. Sangrait was first reported lacking on Aug. 10, 2024.

In accordance with a publish on the South Dakota Lacking Individuals Alerts Fb web page, Sangrait was final believed to be staying with a buddy in Eagle Butte, KOTA-TV reported.

She “left stating that she could be touring to Field Elder to get a few of her issues” forward of a visit to California, and there had been “zero contact” since, per a lacking individuals flyer.

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After police recognized the stays, a GoFundMe was created to boost cash for Sangrait’s funeral bills. It additionally shared extra perception into the “lovely” Field Elder lady, who “principally glided by” the identify Shy.

“Shy is an exquisite, inclusive and mesmerizing spirit,” the fundraiser states. “She entered the world on March 26, 2003, to a slew of misfortune, solely to assault all of it head-on with a smile on her face.”

“She is clever, witty, intuitive, and throughout spirit to be near,” the outline continues. “We’re all so fortunate to know her.”