Midwest
Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit investigating alleged military base killing
A special unit that began as a cold case task force recently helped secure a murder indictment against an active-duty airman accused of killing a missing Native American woman.
Quinterius Chappelle, 24, an aircraft inspection journeyman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for the alleged murder of 21-year-old Sahela “Shy” Toka Win Sangrait, who friends and family told Fox News Digital was his girlfriend of about one year.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) became involved in the case March 10, when a state lab confirmed a DNA sample from the body matched Sangrait, a registered tribal member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
“At that point in time, our criminal investigators were notified and were brought online with it,” MMU Regional Agent In Charge Robert Schoeberl told Fox News Digital in an interview Friday.
Sahela “Shy” Sangrait was allegedly killed in August 2024. (Cassidy Wimble)
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The unit originated as a cold case task force, part of operation “Lady Justice,” a multi-agency initiative established by the Trump administration in 2019 to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system and address the staggering number of missing and murdered Native Americans in tribal communities, according to Schoeberl.
In February, the BIA announced the Office of Justice Services launched “Operation Spirit Return” in conjunction with MMU.
Homicide was among the top three most frequent causes of death among American Indian and Alaska Native females aged 15 to 24, as of 2019, according to data provided by the National Congress of American Indians. More than four in five indigenous women experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
The Not Invisible Act was also passed by Congress during Trump’s first term in 2020, aimed at addressing the rampant number of missing persons and murder and trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples.
Sahela Sangrait was a compassionate person with a “forgiving heart,” her sister says. (Cassidy Wimble)
“President Trump is the president of law and order, and he is always working to deliver justice for victims of violent crime,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
According to a redacted indictment, Chappelle, an airman basic who has been in the service since 2019, allegedly “unlawfully, and with premeditation and with malice aforethought” killed Sangrait at Ellsworth Air Force Base on or about Aug. 11, 2024.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said Sangrait, of Box Elder, was reported missing Aug. 10, just one day prior to when authorities claim she was killed.
Isabela Arroyo, Sangrait’s sister, told Fox News Digital Chappelle was verbally abusive toward Sangrait, who had a one-way plane ticket to move in with Arroyo and her husband in Colorado Sept. 6.
Authorities determined the alleged murder occurred at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. (Ellsworth Air Force Base)
Sangrait told Chappelle she was going to go to Colorado for the birth of Arroyo’s son Sept. 27, her sister said. However, it is unclear if Chappelle found out about her plan to remain in Colorado.
“She never got on the plane,” Arroyo said. “It was really hard. I had assumed that she had just chosen not to come anymore, and, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
Sangrait’s body, discarded in a wooded area near the Pennington and Custer County line, was discovered by a hiker March 4, about seven months after her disappearance.
The sheriff’s office said the body was “badly decomposed” and there was “no identifying information available.”
The cause of death has not yet been released.
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Quinterius Chappelle, 24, is accused of first-degree murder.
Tayagonique McGloghlon, who met Sangrait in 2021 while participating in a program for young adults who recently aged out of foster care, told Fox News Digital the prospective nurse would call her every week, but, similar to Arroyo, the last she heard from Sangrait was Aug. 10.
“The last message I got from her was on Aug. 10, and she asked me if I was OK,” McGloghlon said. “The day before that, I called her about three times. The third time I called, it went straight to voicemail — like her phone had been turned off for me, which I thought was really weird. … It put me off in a weird way.”
McGloghlon said she tried sending Sangrait messages on social media, thinking maybe she had been blocked.
“I was like, ‘That’s not like her, especially when she always kept in contact with me,’” she said.
McGloghlon, who met Chappelle while he was dating one of her friends prior to Sangrait, said she always found him “a little bit weird” and “never liked him,” but Sangrait only told her good things.
Tayagonique McGloghlon, left, told Fox News Digital she and Sahela Sangrait would take walks together every day and share a jar of pickles at least once a week. (Tayagonique McGloghlon)
“I was devastated [when her remains were found],” McGloghlon said. “Honestly, I’ve never been more heartbroken. She’s the light in this world. She didn’t deserve that. … She was very spirited and such a good friend. She was a kind soul, just beautiful. I miss her so much. She was one of my best friends.”
Cassidy Wimble, another one of Sangrait’s friends, told Fox News Digital she had yet to meet Chappelle in person, but he was one of the first people she reached out to after the disappearance.
“He told me, ‘I don’t know anything. I wish we [could] find her,’” Wimble said. “He said the same thing to a few people.”
MMU investigators collaborate with the federal National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) database and Othram, a Texas-based company that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy, to identify human remains.
“It’s more advanced forensic testing, which a lot of the evidence from this case will run through,” Schoeberl said.”[Othram] tests relatives, basically identifying you through your family members’ DNA. It’s been very beneficial in solving and helping solve cases recently.”
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The Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI assisted with the case. (Bureau of Indian Affairs)
As part of the Sangrait investigation, the unit also interviewed witnesses, conducted searches and notified family of the death.
The MMU’s Victim Services Program continues to provide the family with daily updates as the investigation continues, and the unit remains in close contact with the FBI and other agencies assisting with the case.
U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota Alison J. Ramsdell said prosecutors will pursue justice “relentlessly.”
“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,” Ramsdell wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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Arroyo said it helps to know her sister will get justice and Chappelle is now in custody, unable to harm anyone else.
“It’s just how long he was able to walk around like nothing happened,” Arroyo said. “He has already denied even knowing my sister. When they initially arrested him, he didn’t say a word. He didn’t even ask why he was being arrested.”
Chappelle is being held by the U.S. Marshals Service at the Pennington County Jail in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Fox News Digital obtained a scheduling and case management order signed by U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler, noting a jury trial is set for May 27.
Authorities allege Sahela Sangrait was killed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. (Ellsworth Air Force Base)
Attorney Gina Ruggieri, who filed a notice stating she would be representing Chappelle instead of his previously appointed public defender, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fort Ellsworth said it is working closely with area law enforcement agencies.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Sahela,” Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander, previously told Fox News Digital when Chappelle was initially charged with second-degree murder in a federal criminal complaint. “We hold Airmen accountable for their actions, and if service members are found in violation of military or civilian law, they will be punished.”
After the indictment, Fort Ellsworth officials, in response to a request for comment, referred Fox News Digital to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of South Dakota, citing the jurisdiction change.
Sahela Sangrait was found dead in March after disappearing in 2024. (Facebook/Bernice White Swan)
Wimble, who said she spoke with Sangrait every day, described her as one of the strongest people she knew.
“She was one of the most resilient people that I knew,” Wimble said. “You could knock her down, and like bowling pins, she’d stand up every single time. … She was very strong, and she knew herself more than anybody. She was the kindest person I knew. Especially with all the things that she’s gone through. … She’s everything to me. … She really deserved a life.”
The Air Force and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office declined Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
The FBI and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Illinois Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick-3 numbers from May 3 drawing
Midday: 1-6-4, Fireball: 6
Evening: 7-4-1, Fireball: 7
Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick-4 numbers from May 3 drawing
Midday: 7-7-7-7, Fireball: 6
Evening: 9-5-4-7, Fireball: 3
Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning LuckyDay Lotto numbers from May 3 drawing
Midday: 01-04-07-23-26
Evening: 02-08-25-28-39
Check LuckyDay Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes up to $600: Claim at an Illinois Lottery retailer, a Claim Center, by mail, or via an e-Claim. By mail, send the required documentation to: Illinois Lottery Claims Department, P.O. Box 19080, Springfield, IL.
- Prizes from $601 to $10,000: Claim at a Claim Center, by mail, or via an e-Claim.
- Prizes over $10,000: Claim at a Claim Center or by mail.
- Appointments Required: Schedule an appointment for in-person claims.
- Documentation: Bring a photo ID and Social Security number proof.
When are the Illinois Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky Day Lotto (Day): 12:40 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky Day Lotto (Evening): 9:22 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto: 9:22 p.m. CT on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
- Pick 3 (Day): 12:40 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:22 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 12:40 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:22 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Illinois editor. You can send feedback using this form.
POV: Spend a summer day kayaking Sugar Creek outside of Indianapolis
Pack a picnic lunch and head out on the water for a day of nature, exercise and Indiana’s iconic covered bridges.
A new nature preserve in Zionsville will open later this month after years of work converting an old golf course into publicly accessible greenspace.
The Carpenter Nature Preserve is located on the site of the former Wolf Run Club. The club, which closed in 2017, sat at the northwest corner of south Michigan Road and State Road 32 where Eagle Creek runs through the town. Once the 215-acre nature preserve opens, soft and hard-paved trails will lead visitors through woods, prairies and wetlands.
Jarod Logsdon, superintendent of parks and recreation for the Town of Zionsville, said the town is excited to get people out to the property.
“I think it’s a great example of how people and greenspace can be side by side,” Logsdon said. “[Greenspaces] obviously enhance the quality of life for residents, but they’re people’s front door to nature.”
Handshake agreement keeps land undeveloped
The town purchased the land from residents Nancy and Jim Carpenter, who bought it from developers after it hit the market in 2017. The couple held onto the property after then-Mayor Emily Styron asked the couple to keep it free from development, Logsdon said.
Once the town had shored up the money in 2021, it purchased the property from the Carpenters. The town leveraged state and federal grants to acquire the land for $5.5 million and reserve money for the initial construction and mitigation phase.
Nancy Carpenter, in a 2023 news release, said Styron invited them to the property for a visit. The couple immediately recognized how appealing it would be to a developer.
“We couldn’t let that happen,” Nancy said in the release. “You cannot find anything like this in central Indiana that will ever be available again.”
The Carpenters, who cofounded Wild Birds Unlimited and have been involved with Zionsville parks for years, maintained the property prior to selling it to the town. They mowed down old golf cart trails, set up bird boxes and planted gardens to attract pollinators. The couple worked with the town to create the master plan that eventually led to the creation of the preserve.
Education and amenities at Zionsville preserve
The preserve currently is in phase one of construction and planning, Logsdon said, and when it opens it will have more than just trails.
The department built a pavilion with nearby restrooms as well as a nature playground with a nearby seating shelter. The playground isn’t the typical steel jungle gym, Logsdon said, but is built using wood from the Pacific Northwest.
The natural building material in the playground is meant to give visitors “a taste of nature play before they go out into the preserve,” Logsdon said.
A small amphitheater also sits on the grounds, which will host campfires and other events.
These amenities will be complete when the preserve opens to the public. The department plans to build a regional nature center in the future to provide more in-depth environmental education to visitors.
While visitors will be able to visit most of the preserve, about a third of the property will be closed to the public as the Indiana Department of Natural Resources works to rehabilitate wetlands. The state will spend about $4 million to restore and maintain Eagle Creek and its tributaries in the park.
Once the preserve opens, visitors can access the entrance off 900 East, just south of SR32.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk or BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social.
IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Lost in the shuffle of the 2026 midterms — the unprecedented mid-decade redistricting, President Trump’s sagging favorability numbers and Democrats’ hopes of retaking the House and potentially the Senate — is an election story that could have implications for 2028 and beyond.
In 23 states, including five presidential swing states, candidates who have denied election results are running for offices that will have a direct role in certifying future elections.
That is according to a new analysis, shared exclusively with NPR ahead of its release, by States United Action, a nonprofit that seeks to protect elections and has been tracking candidate positions on the validity of election results since 2022.
“The goal is to be able to provide voters with the most accurate information possible,” said Joanna Lydgate, States United’s CEO, “and understand exactly what these candidates stand for and whether they fundamentally believe in free and fair elections in this country.”
In total, 39 states are holding elections this year for statewide positions that interact with elections, either for secretary of state or governor, which depending on the state has a role in administering or certifying elections, or for attorney general, which interprets and enforces election laws.
States United found at least 53 election-denying candidates are vying for those jobs at this point in the midterm cycle.
To define which candidates qualify for the title, States United tracks whether candidates meet at least one of five criteria, including whether they’ve falsely claimed Trump was the rightful winner in 2020 or if they’ve supported efforts to undermine results after audits and legal challenges were completed.
In most states, the elected position with the most direct responsibility over how elections run is secretary of state. These typically bureaucratic jobs took on new meaning in 2020, when officials from both parties faced unprecedented pressure from Trump and his allies to influence the results.
In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger declined Trump’s request to “find” 11,780 votes. In Michigan, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson had armed protesters descend on her home in the weeks after voting ended.
Both swing states will elect new secretaries of state and governors this year, and both states currently have people in the running who have denied election results.
In Arizona, another presidential battleground, people who deny election results are running for all three critical statewide positions, according to States United’s analysis.
In 2020, Arizona’s Republican governor at the time, Doug Ducey, faced pressure from Trump to interfere in the certification process but declined to do so.
This year, however, the front-runner for the GOP nomination for governor in Arizona, Andy Biggs, voted not to certify those election results while he was serving in the U.S. House, and even made a call to a key state lawmaker at the time to investigate other ways to interfere with the process.
“We’ve watched these state officials on both sides of the aisle stand up and push back when Trump has tried to interfere with elections and election results in the past,” Lydgate said. “We know that they will do that again. But it’s incredibly important that we elect people who believe in our system and who believe in free and fair elections.”
Compared with recent cycles, the number of election deniers running this year in statewide races is actually down. Lydgate attributes that to state-level candidates realizing it’s a “bad campaign strategy” in places that will have competitive races come November.
“Election denial is not something that American voters like, and candidates who’ve run on that platform have paid a real price in the past,” Lydgate said.
After the 2022 midterms, an NPR analysis found that Republican secretary of state candidates who denied the results of the 2020 election generally underperformed other GOP candidates in competitive states. A separate analysis of the same election by States United estimated the penalty for election denial to be roughly 3 percentage points.
Candidates running in states Trump won by double digits, or in crowded primaries where they are seeking Trump’s endorsement, clearly aren’t being dissuaded by that data however.
Brendan Fischer, who leads research into efforts to undermine elections at the Campaign Legal Center, says a powerful “election denial infrastructure” has cropped up since 2020, which has proven effective at moving candidates and lawmakers toward false theories about voting and policy responses to that misinformation.
“The election denier movement still represents a tiny, tiny minority of the country,” Fischer said. “But it is an energized and active force within Republican politics. It’s an organized interest group that [Republican candidates and lawmakers] need to be at least somewhat responsive to.”
Copyright 2026 NPR
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