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

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. McKenna Wendel Sioux Falls Police Department 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. …