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Sioux Falls, SD (KTIV) — Three months ago, a South Dakota teen was reported missing, and several days later, she was found dead in a rural area. Now, authorities have announced two men, one of them a family member, are being charged for her death.
Multiple law enforcement representatives held a news conference Thursday morning on the death of McKenna Wendel, a 14-year-old girl from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In that news conference, authorities said 51-year-old Mark Milk, McKenna’s uncle, and 38-year-old Jon Rogness were being indicted on several charges related to McKenna’s death.
“There are no cases that we investigate that are more heart-wrenching and more tragic than ones that involve children or the death of a child,” said Gene Kowel, Special FBI Agent in Charge. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family in this case, to McKenna’s family, although many of us up here never had the opportunity to meet her, from what we heard, from what I heard, I know that her life, although far too short here on earth will have a profound impact on everyone that knew her, and we hope that life will continue to shine a light on everyone that knew her and loved her.”
Milk, of Sioux Falls, is facing five charges in connection with the teen’s death:
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance
- Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
- Conspiracy to conceal objects with intent to impair their availability for an official proceeding
- Concealing objects with the intent to impair their availability for official proceedings
For Rogness, a Brookings, South Dakota resident, he is facing two counts:
- Conspiracy to conceal objects with the intent to impair their availability for an official proceeding
- Accessory after the fact
Both men were charged in federal court in Iowa’s Northern District. Milk and Rogness are expected to appear before a judge at the Sioux City federal courthouse. A date has not yet been set.
The news conference that announced the charges began at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, and took place in Downtown Sioux City at the offices of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
In that news conference, authorities addressed why it took several months after McKenna’s body was found for charges to be filed.
“Good investigations and good work take time, they take solid efforts to dot I’s and cross T’s, and the desire of information sometimes can be strong, but the results of justice is what we pursue.” Jon Thum, Chief of Police for the Sioux Falls Police Department. “For the general public, we do not live in TV shows; things aren’t solved in an hour, evidence takes time and investigation takes time.”
Those in attendance at the news conference included:
- Leif Olson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
- Ron Parsons, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
- Jon Thum, Chief of Police for the Sioux Falls Police Department
Mike Hockett, Special Agent in Charge of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation
Background on McKenna’s disappearance and death
The 14-year-old was reported missing from Sioux Falls on March 13, 2026. She was found dead a few days later, on March 19, in rural Brookings County, South Dakota. Police say she was found east of the town of Brookings.
Over two months later, in May, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the investigation had been finished, and charges were being worked on.
“The investigation is complete. The prosecutors are working through jurisdiction now because it involved South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, and it involved Brookings County and Minnehaha County. I can assure the public that it has been prioritized,” said Jackley in a statement in May. “It has been a complete and thorough investigation, and there will be charges in June.”
At that time, Jackley did not go into further detail on the charges.
Milk previously sentenced to life in prison without parole
Mark Milk was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the 1993 death of Shawn Peneaux.
At approximately 1:30 a.m. on October 3, 1993, Milk, who was 19 at the time, stabbed Peneaux multiple times in the chest, side, back, and face. Milk then kicked Peneaux multiple times in the head and face before leaving to meet up with his girlfriend at the time.
Peneaux died in the street in the early morning hours of October 3, 1993. When police found his body around 6 a.m., Peneaux’s face had been lacerated and bruised, and he had been repeatedly stabbed and slashed, including a series of cuts from ear to ear. The top of his right ear had been cut off.
At that time, Jackley did not go into further detail on the charges.
Milk was arrested for the first-degree murder of Peneaux on October 4, 1993. On October 8, 1993, the grand jury indicted Milk on four alternative homicide counts:
- Premeditated first-degree murder
- Second- degree murder
- First-degree manslaughter committed without a design to effect death, and in heat of passion but in a cruel and unusual manner
- First-degree manslaughter with a deadly weapon
Milk was offered a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. The other counts were dismissed. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Former Governor Kristi Noem’s involvement
According to court documents, Milk was out on parole after former Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, commuted his charges in 2023. Changing his sentence from life in prison without parole to 240 years, making him eligible for parole.
A commuted sentence happens when a government official, in this case Gov. Noem, reduces or changes a criminal sentence to a lesser punishment, without erasing the conviction itself. This means Milk’s first-degree manslaughter conviction remains on his record.
During her time in office, Noem issued 27 total commutations.
Commuted sentences are typically reviewed by the state Board of Pardons and Paroles before consideration. According to the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles Minutes, they heard Milk’s case in June of 2024. McKenna was at that meeting.
Milk is currently sitting in the Minnehaha County Jail, and was arrested on March 17 on charges of:
- Second-degree eluding
- DWI 1st
- DWI 1st
- Reckless driving
- Failure to furnish information in an accident with vehicle damage
- Stop sign violation
- Speeding
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. It is being investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department; Sioux Falls Fire Rescue; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Department; Minnehaha County Search and Rescue; Brookings County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Office; Brookings Police Department; Brookings Fire Department; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Brookings County Attorney’s Office; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Attorney’s Office; the Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Criminal Investigation; Iowa State Patrol; Lyon County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department; the Lyon County Attorney’s Office; the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office; the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.
