South Dakota

South Dakota beheading case to see trial Tuesday; suspect points finger elsewhere

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2024

South Dakota beheading case to see trial Tuesday; suspect points finger elsewhere

WATERTOWN, S.D. — A Watertown, South Dakota, man is set to stand trial this week in the 2020 death of 28-year-old Kendra Owen, despite his claim that another individual is ultimately responsible.

Jeremiah Peacemaker, 44, of Watertown, is charged in Codington County with first- and second-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 20.

The charges stem from the evening hours of Sept. 2, 2020, when police in Watertown were called to an apartment in the 300 block of North Broadway Street to conduct a welfare check. Inside, they located Owen’s body, noting she appeared to have been dead for several days.

Though many details regarding the crime scene remain unclear — as a probable cause statement prepared by investigators sits under seal — Attorney General Marty Jackley confirmed to Sioux Falls Live this month that Owen’s body had been decapitated.

It took police less than 24 hours from the discovery of Owen’s body to arrest Peacemaker.

Investigators have

publicly acknowledged

that Peacemaker and Owen were “recent acquaintances,” but were not a couple. Court documents indicate Peacemaker admitted to being present in Owen’s apartment before her death.

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement took DNA samples from both Peacemaker and Owen to be tested at the South Dakota Forensic Laboratory in Pierre, alongside multiple other pieces of evidence recovered from the scene.

Court documents include this list of items submitted to the South Dakota Forensics Lab for DNA and fingerprint testing in connection to the 2020 death of Watertown resident Kendra Owen.

Scanned image of court documents

According to court documents, lab results found the presence of blood on multiple items, including a towel taken from Peacemaker’s apartment. DNA analysis from the towel, however, did not match a sample taken from Owen’s body.

Two cigarette butts were also tested for DNA. One was found to have multiple DNA profiles — and could not be narrowed down to whom the DNA belonged — while the other was found to contain none of Peacemaker’s DNA.

Kendra Owen - Cig Butt.jpg — A cigarette butt recovered from Kendra Owen’s residence following her death in 2020.

One of the cigarette butts was compared to DNA of one of Owen’s former roommates, but court documents say it was not a match.

In Owen’s car, investigators located a pair of women’s panties “encrusted” in semen. Forensic analysis found that the semen did not match Peacemaker’s DNA profile.

Hundreds of pages of public documents reviewed by Sioux Falls Live do not make mention of whether any sort of weapon was recovered or whether it was tested for fingerprints or DNA.

An alleged lack of DNA evidence against Peacemaker has resulted in his attorney’s argument that a third party, whose identity is unclear, may be responsible for Owen’s death.

Court documents indicate the defense plans to introduce evidence that two of Owen’s former roommates could have committed the crime, making specific reference to the cigarette butts located by investigators.

Neither former roommate has been charged in connection with Owen’s death.

Tuesday’s trial is scheduled to last as long as March 8, unless a verdict is reached sooner. According to court records, more than 60 civilians, law enforcement officers and experts have been subpoenaed in the case.

If convicted of either first- or second-degree murder,

South Dakota law mandates

life in prison as a minimum punishment. Prosecutors have declined to pursue the death penalty.

Outside of the murder charge, Peacemaker is also facing three counts of simple assault across three separate criminal cases. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in a county jail.

A South Dakota native, Hunter joined Forum Communications as a reporter for the Mitchell (S.D.) Republic in June 2021 and now works as a digital reporter for Sioux Falls Live, with a primary focus on crime in Sioux Falls and government in Lincoln County.

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South Dakota

Where to watch SDSU at South Dakota men’s basketball today, time, TV

Published

14 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch SDSU at South Dakota men’s basketball today, time, TV

The South Dakota State men’s basketball team has a chance to get some payback against South Dakota today in both teams’ final game before the Summit League Tournament begins.

The Jackrabbits (14-16, 7-8 Summit League) have won three of four and just beat Kansas City 73-59 on Thursday, Feb. 26. The Coyotes (15-15, 7-8) are headed in the opposite direction, having stopped a three-game skid with an 89-72 win over Omaha on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Here’s how to watch the two rivals battle again.

South Dakota State at South Dakota men’s basketball TV, radio, stream

Radio: Jackrabbit Sports Network, Coyote Sports Network

Stream: Summit League Network

South Dakota State at South Dakota time today

Location: Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion

South Dakota State at South Dakota prediction

Paul Cifonelli, Argus Leader: Like the first time these two teams met, this is a matchup between two squads headed in different directions. Somehow, they’ve managed to flip roles in just three weeks.

South Dakota looks like it is running out of steam quickly after impressing and threatening the third spot in the Summit League in early February. South Dakota State has rebounded from losing five of six nicely, giving themselves a chance at hitting .500 on the season.

I expect the Jackrabbits to continue playing inspired and hard, and for them to overwhelm a Coyote side that has shown more fight than anyone could’ve imagined.

South Dakota State 73, South Dakota 65

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for Feb. 27, 2026

Published

12 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Feb. 27, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

11-18-39-43-67, Mega Ball: 23

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

03-04-13-28-42, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life 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 of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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