A member of the U.S. Air Force has been arrested in connection with the murder of Sahela Sangrait, a 21-year-old woman from South Dakota. Authorities confirmed the arrest over the weekend, following a grim discovery. A hiker found Sangrait’s remains in early March, nearly seven months after she went missing.
The investigation revealed that her death took place at Ellsworth Air Force Base, which is near her home in Box Elder. Quinterius Chappelle, an active-duty airman, faces federal charges for second-degree murder. He is currently held in Pennington County Jail, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office handling the prosecution.
Sangrait was last seen on August 10 while staying with a friend in Eagle Butte, a city about 150 miles from the Air Force Base. She intended to collect some belongings before heading to California but became unreachable after leaving.
Sangrait was identified as a Native American woman. Unfortunately, Native American women face a disturbing trend in violence. They are disproportionately affected by crimes such as murder and assault. This issue has reached a crisis level in the U.S.
According to the National Crime Information Center, there were over 5,700 reports of missing Native women and girls in 2016. Recent estimates from the Bureau of Indian Affairs suggest that around 4,200 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people remain unsolved today. South Dakota is home to a significant number of these cases, with dozens of Indigenous women currently reported missing.
This incident sheds light on a broader societal issue affecting Native American communities. As discussions around violence against Indigenous populations gain traction, many advocate for increased awareness and action to address this crisis. It’s vital for society to recognize and address these alarming statistics to help prevent further tragedies.
For more insights into the crisis surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women, you can read further details on the RAINN website.
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Source linkSouth Dakota, Murder, Missing Person, United States Air Force
