Man charged in girl's death after life sentence commuted by Kristi Noem

Two men have been charged in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl whose body was discovered in rural South Dakota earlier this year. Among the accused is Mark Milk, 51, whose life sentence for a manslaughter conviction was commuted in 2023 by then-Governor Kristi Noem.

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She loved the singing and the beautiful sounds of the drums.

McKenna Wendel was reported missing on March 13 and last seen in Sioux Falls. Her body was found on March 19 near Brookings. Milk faces five counts, including possession with intent to deliver cocaine that allegedly caused Wendel's death. Court documents also state he is charged with transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The indictment indicates the death resulted from the use of a controlled substance Milk possessed with intent to distribute.

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All charges occurred within the Northern District of Iowa.

A second man, Jon Rogness, 38, faces conspiracy and accessory charges related to an alleged attempt to cover up the crimes. Authorities announced the charges during a news conference in Sioux City, Iowa, stating that the most serious and readily provable charges originated within the Northern District of Iowa. Details surrounding Wendel's death remain limited as the investigation is ongoing, and autopsy findings have not yet been released.

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The charges that we brought are the most serious, readily provable.

Wendel, described as having a "vibrant personality and a zest for life," was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and enjoyed attending powwows with her grandparents, who raised her. The case has been described as "horrific" and "heart-wrenching" by law enforcement officials, particularly given the involvement of a child.

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This is a horrific case. 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.