South Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Noem now implicated
in his niece's death
[June 19, 2026]
By MEAD GRUVER and JACQUES BILLEAUD
Two men, including one whose life sentence was commuted by then-South
Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, have been charged in the death of a 14-year-old
girl whose body was found in a rural area five days after she went
missing in March.
McKenna Wendel was reported missing March 13 and last seen alive in her
hometown of Sioux Falls early on March 14. Her body was found outside
Brookings, an hour's drive north of Sioux Falls, on March 19.
Wendel's uncle, Mark Milk, 51, also of Sioux Falls, now faces five
counts related to her death. Milk was almost three decades into a life
term on a manslaughter conviction when Noem commuted his sentence in
2023.
Wendel was raised by her grandparents, loved animals and had a “vibrant
personality and a zest for life,” according to her obituary. She and her
grandparents were Rosebud Sioux Tribe members and attended powwows
often.
“She loved the singing and the beautiful sounds of the drums,” her
obituary read.
Details about Wendel's death remained thin as authorities who announced
the charges in a Sioux City, Iowa, news conference Thursday kept close
what they knew to protect their investigation.
Authorities have said an autopsy was done, but the findings have not
been released. The cause and manner of Wendel's death would not be
released yet per Justice Department policy, said Leif Olson, U.S.
attorney for northern Iowa.
Milk faces five counts including possession with intent to deliver
cocaine that caused Wendel's death. He is also charged with
transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual
activity, according to court documents.
Jon Rogness, 38, of Brookings faces conspiracy and accessory charges in
an alleged attempt to cover up the crimes. The counts against the men
were the “most serious, readily provable” charges and all originated in
Iowa, Olson said.
“This is a horrific case,” FBI special agent Gene Kowel said. “There are
no cases that we investigate that are more heart-wrenching and more
tragic than the ones that involve children or the death of a child.”
Court records showed no lawyers listed for Milk and Rogness, and no
relatives could immediately be located through phone records and social
media to speak on their behalf.
In February 2023, Noem commuted Milk’s life sentence for a manslaughter
conviction in an October 1993 stabbing death. Milk, then 19, had been
involved in several altercations in the city of Winner that ended with
the death of Shawn Peneaux, according to records.
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This undated booking photo released by the South Dakota Department
of Corrections on Thursday, June 18, 2026, shows Mark Milk. (South
Dakota Department of Corrections via AP)
Milk was in jail on unrelated allegations of driving under the
influence and eluding police when Wendel's body was found. His name
came up in public discussion about the case from the start. But
prosecutors, who finished their investigation in late May, did not
formally link him to Wendel's death until filing charges Wednesday.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a late March
news conference the decision to commute Milk's life sentence was
strictly Noem's.
“It is fairly often that you see law enforcement oppose
commutations," Jackley remarked without commenting further on Noem's
decision.
The commutation documents were sealed and even he had not seen them,
he noted.
The Associated Press left a message Thursday for Noem on seeking
comment through NovaRed Mining, a Canadian firm she recently joined
in a “strategic advisory role."
A Republican, Noem, 54, was South Dakota's lone congressperson from
2011 to 2019 and governor from 2019 to 2025. She was Homeland
Security secretary before being fired in March by President Donald
Trump amid criticism of her handling of the administration’s
immigration crackdown and disaster response.
Trump praised Noem's leadership and said he was making her special
envoy for “The Shield of the Americas." The new organization of
Western Hemisphere nations is focused on supporting democracy and
security in the region.
___
Gruver reported from Fort Collins, Colorado, and Billeaud from
Phoenix, Arizona.
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