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A family of hunters found her skull. Their discovery led to justice for her death
Forensic anthropology and a police artist’s reconstruction helped identify Georgianne Walking Bull, leading to Mark Christenson’s manslaughter conviction and a 65-year sentence.
- On October 25, 1987 the Richert family found a skull north of Sioux Falls near Renner, South Dakota, later confirmed as Georgianne Walking Bull, 31, leading to Mark William Christenson's arrest one week after identification.
- Minnehaha County Sheriff Les Hawkey said the skull was sent to the University of Kansas for testing, and Phil Toft, sheriff's deputy and police artist, created a facial reconstruction with forensic anthropologist input.
- A forensic anthropologist found the victim had blunt head trauma and described her as 5 feet 3 inches tall with dark brown hair, dying five months before discovery.
- Prosecutors charged Christenson with murder and manslaughter, dropped the murder count, and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, later receiving parole eligibility and release.
- Rock County Sheriff Matt Sorenson said officials will review cold cases after Christenson's name recently appeared in a Minnesota BCA investigative file, though he is not a suspect in that case.
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A family of hunters found her skull. Their discovery led to justice for her death
The remains of 31-year-old Georgianne Walking Bull were found by a group of hunters near Renner, South Dakota, on Oct. 25, 1987. Before the discovery, she wasn't on law enforcement's radar.
·Fargo, United States
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Total News Sources15
Leaning Left0Leaning Right6Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Right
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Right
60% Right
C 40%
R 60%
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