South Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Noem now implicated in his niece’s death
Prosecutors say the case involves cocaine, sexual exploitation and an alleged cover-up as investigators tied Milk to the teen’s death.
- On Thursday, federal authorities indicted Mark Milk, 51, and Jon Rogness, 38, for the death of 14-year-old McKenna Wendel in the Northern District of Iowa following a three-month investigation.
- Wendel was reported missing from Sioux Falls on March 13 and found dead six days later near Brookings; Milk, her uncle, was on parole after former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem commuted his 1993 manslaughter sentence in 2023.
- Milk faces five counts including possession with intent to distribute cocaine resulting in death and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, while Rogness faces conspiracy and accessory charges.
- U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Leif Olson stated the counts represent "the most serious, readily provable" charges as federal officials coordinate across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota.
- FBI Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel said investigations involving children remain difficult, noting, "Our hearts go out to McKenna's family," while authorities withhold details to protect the ongoing case.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Mark Milk Whose Life Sentence Kristi Noem Commuted Is Charged Over Teen Niece's Fatal Cocaine Case
Mark Milk, a South Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Kristi Noem, now faces federal charges tied to the death of his 14-year-old niece, McKenna Wendel. Federal authorities in Iowa announced charges after a months-long investigation into Wendel's disappearance and death in March. The case has drawn fresh attention to South Dakota's clemency and parole system because Milk had been serving a life sentence for manslaughter before Noem c…
Suspect in 14-Year-Old Girl’s Death Had Life Sentence Commuted by Kristi Noem
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura A man whose life sentence was commuted by then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been charged in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl whose disappearance prompted a days-long search earlier this year, per statements from the Sioux Falls police reported by ABC News on Friday. According to an indictment unsealed this week, 51-year-old Mark Milk faces federal charges alleging he transported a minor with the intent t…
Killer Freed By Noem Charged In Niece's Drug Death
The Associated Press reports: 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. …
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