Sahela “Toka Win” Sangrait

A family member holds a sign for Sahela Sangrait, a Lakota woman who federal prosecutors say was killed on the Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder, South Dakota. Credit: Amelia Schafer, ICT

Sahela “Toka Win” Sangrait, a 21-year-old member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was reported missing from South Dakota in August 2024. Her remains were discovered near Hill City in March 2025, and investigators determined that she had been killed. U.S. Airman Quinterius Charles Chappelle was federally charged in connection with her death and pleaded not guilty. The case has drawn significant attention because the alleged killing occurred in connection with Ellsworth Air Force Base and because Sahela’s family has raised concerns about domestic violence and whether earlier warning signs were adequately addressed. Attorney Darlene Gomez represents the Sangrait family. Public reporting earlier this year indicated that the federal case was proceeding toward trial; I was not able to verify a later public disposition, so the website should avoid stating that the trial is still pending until the current federal docket is confirmed.

News links:

• ICT — Family demands justice and accountability f

  or Sahela Sangrait

• Dakota News Now — Missing and Murdered: Finding justice for Sahela Sangrait