Special Unit of the Office of Indigenous Affairs investigates the murder of the South Dakota military base

A special unit that began as a cold case working group recently helped ensure an accusation of murder against an active duty aviator accused of killing a missing American native woman.

Quinterrius Chappelle, 24, a aircraft inspection officer parked at Ellsworth Air Forces Base in Dakota del Sur, was accused by a federal grand jury on Thursday for the alleged 21 -year murder Sahela “shy” Toka won Sangrait, whom friends and family told Fox Digital that he was his girlfriend of approximately one year.

The Office of Indigenous Affairs (BIA) disappeared and murdered the unit (MMU) in the case of March 10, when a state laboratory confirmed a sample of DNA of the body that matched bleeding, a registered tribal member of the Sioux tribe of the Cheyenne River.

“At that time, our criminal investigators were notified and were put online,” said Robert Schoeberl, regional agent of MMU, Fox News Digital in an interview on Friday.

USE. UU. Active duty accused of killing the missing woman in the military base

The unit originated as a task force of Case Cold, part of the operation “Justice of Lady”, an initiative of multiple agencies established by the Trump administration in 2019 to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system and address the amazing number of native American natives missing and killed in tribal communities, according to Schoeber.

In February, the BIA announced the Office of Justice of Justice launched “Operation Spirit Return“Together with MMU.

Homicide was one of the three most frequent causes of death among American and Alaska Women from 15 to 24 years, according to 2019, according to the data provided by the National Congress of American Indians. More than four out of five indigenous women experience sexual violence in their lives.

The Congress also approved the non -invisible law during Trump’s first mandate in 2020, with the aim of addressing the unbridled number of missing persons and murders and trafficking of American Indian and Alaska peoples.

“President Trump He is the president of the law and order, and is always working to deliver justice to the victims of violent crimes, “wrote the Press Secretary of the White House, Anna Kelly, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

According to an accusation written, Chappelle, a basic aviator that has been in the service since 2019, supposedly “illegally, and with premeditation and with malice before antiquity” killed bleeding at the base of the Ellsworth Air Force on August 11, August 11, 2024.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s office said Bux Elder, was missing reported August 10, only one day before the authorities claim that they killed her.

Isabela Arroyo, bleeding sister, told Fox News Digital Chappelle was verbally abusive to bleeding, who had a unique plane ticket to move with Arroyo and her husband in Colorado on September 6.

Sangrait told Chappelle that he was going to Colorado for the birth of Arroyo’s son on September 27, his sister said. However, it is not clear if Chappelle learned of his plan to stay in Colorado.

“She never got on the plane,” Arroyo said. “It was really difficult. I assumed that she had just chosen no longer and, unfortunately, that was not the case.”

The body of bleeding, discarded in a wooded area near the Pennington and Custer County line, was discovered by a hiker on March 4, approximately seven months after its disappearance.

The Sheriff’s office said the body was “bad decomponing” and that “there was no available identification information.”

The cause of death has not yet been released.

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Tayagonique McGloghlon, who met with bleeding in 2021 while participating in a program for young adults who recently aged parenting care, Fox News Digital that the possible nurse would call her every week, but, similar to Arroyo, the last one he heard from bleeding was on August 10.

“The last message I received from her was on August 10, and she asked me if I was fine,” said McGloghlon. “The day before that, I called her about three times. The third time I called, it went directly to voice mail, as if her phone had been off for me, which I thought it was really strange … he discouraged me in a strange way.”

McGloghlon said he tried to send bleeding messages on social networks, thinking that he had been blocked.

“I thought, ‘that’s not like her, especially when she always contacted me,” he said.

McGloghlon, who met Chappelle while he was dating one of his friends before bleeding, said he always found him “a little weird” and “he never liked it”, but Sangrait only told him good things.

“He was devastated (when his remains were found),” McGloghlon said. “Honestly, I’ve never been more inconsolated. She is the light in this world. She didn’t deserve that … she was very energetic and a good friend. She was a kind soul, simply beautiful. I miss her a lot. She was one of my best friends.”

Cassidy Wimble, another of Sangrait’s friends, told Fox News Digital that he had not yet met Chappelle in person, but he was one of the first people he contacted after the disappearance.

“He told me: ‘I don’t know anything. I wish (we could) find her,” Wimble said. “He said the same to some people.”

MMU researchers collaborate with the Federal National System of missing and unidentified people (Namus) Database and Othram, a Texas -based company that specializes in forensic genetic genetics, to identify human remains.

“They are more advanced forensic evidence, that much of the evidence of this case will be executed,” said Schoeberl. “.

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As part of the bleeding investigation, the unit also interviewed witnesses, searches and notified the family of death.

The MMU victim services program continues to provide the family with daily updates as the investigation continues, and the unit is still in close contact With the FBI and other agencies that help with the case.

The US prosecutor of the South Dakota district Alison J. Ramsdell said prosecutors will seek justice “without rest.”

“The United States Prosecutor’s Office for the South Dakota district 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 he helps to know that his sister will get justice and Chappelle is now in custody, unable to harm anyone else.

“It’s how much time could walk as if nothing had 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 in the hands of the US sheriff service in the Pennington County prison in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Fox News Digital obtained an order of programming and case management signed by the US district judge. Camela C. Theeler, noting that a jury trial is scheduled for May 27.

The lawyer Gina Ruggieri, who presented a notice indicating that she would represent Chappelle instead of her previously designated public defender, did not immediately respond to the request for comments from Fox News Digital.

Fort Ellsworth said he is working closely with the agencies of application of the area of ​​the area.

“First, our thoughts and prayers are with Sahela’s friends and family,” said Colonel Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing Commander, said Fox News Digital when Chappelle was initially accused of second degree murder in a federal criminal complaint. “We respond to aviators for their actions, and if the members of the service are in violation of military or civil law, they will be punished.”

After the accusation, Fort Ellsworth officials, in response to a request for comments, sent Fox News Digital to the Office of the United States Prosecutor of Dakota del Sur, citing the change of jurisdiction.

Wimble, who said he spoke with bleeding every day, described her as one of the strongest people she knew.

“She was one of the most resistant people she knew,” Wimble said. “You could knock her down, and like the bowling pins, she stood up every time … she was very strong, and she knew herself more than anyone. He was the friendliest person she knew. Especially with all the things she has been through … she is all for me … she really deserved a life.”

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The Air Force and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office rejected the comments of Fox News Digital.

The FBI and the US Air Force Special Research Office.