South Dakota Man Whose Life Sentence Was Commuted by Noem Charged in Niece's Death

Two men have been charged in connection with the death of McKenna Wendel, a 14-year-old girl whose body was discovered in a rural area outside Brookings, South Dakota, five days after she went missing in March 2026. One of the defendants is Mark Milk, 51, of Sioux Falls, whose life sentence for a 1993 manslaughter conviction was commuted by then-South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in February 2023. Wendel was reported missing on March 13 and last seen alive in Sioux Falls early on March 14; her body was found on March 19, approximately an hour's drive north in Brookings.

Milk faces five counts including possession with intent to deliver cocaine that caused Wendel's death, as well as transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Jon Rogness, 38, of Brookings, faces conspiracy and accessory charges in an alleged attempt to cover up the crimes. U.S. Attorney Leif Olson stated that the charges against the men were the "most serious, readily provable" charges and all originated in Iowa. Authorities announced the charges at a news conference in Sioux City, Iowa on Thursday while withholding details to protect their investigation.

Wendel was raised by her grandparents and was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. According to her obituary, she had a "vibrant personality and a zest for life," loved animals, and frequently attended powwows with her family. "She loved the singing and the beautiful sounds of the drums," her obituary stated. Milk was in jail on unrelated driving under the influence and eluding police charges when Wendel's body was discovered, and his name surfaced in public discussions about the case from the beginning. However, prosecutors did not formally charge him until late May after completing their investigation.

The commutation granted by Noem has drawn renewed scrutiny following the charges. Milk had been nearly three decades into his life sentence for the October 1993 stabbing death of Shawn Peneaux in Winner, South Dakota, when he was 19 years old. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley noted in March that the decision to commute the sentence was strictly Noem's, remarking that law enforcement often opposes commutations, though he did not comment specifically on her decision. Commutation documents were sealed and unavailable even to the Attorney General.

Noem, 54, served as South Dakota's sole congressperson from 2011 to 2019 and as governor from 2019 to 2025. She became Homeland Security Secretary under President Donald Trump but was fired in March 2026 amid criticism of her handling of the administration's immigration crackdown and disaster response. Trump subsequently named her special envoy for "The Shield of the Americas," a new organization of Western Hemisphere nations focused on supporting democracy and security in the region. The Associated Press sought comment from Noem through NovaRed Mining, a Canadian firm she recently joined in a "strategic advisory role," but did not receive a response by the time of reporting.