A South Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by former Gov. Kristi Noem is now facing charges in connection with the death of his 14-year-old niece. Mark Milk, 51, has been charged with five counts related to the death of McKenna Wendel, whose body was discovered in March.
Wendel was reported missing on March 13 and was last seen in Sioux Falls early on March 14. Her body was found five days later on March 19 outside Brookings, approximately an hour north of Sioux Falls.
Milk was serving a life sentence for a manslaughter conviction stemming from a 1993 stabbing death when Noem commuted his sentence in February 2023. He now faces charges including possession with intent to deliver cocaine that allegedly caused Wendel's death, as well as transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The charges were announced Thursday by authorities at a news conference in Sioux City, Iowa.
Another individual, Jon Rogness, 38, of Brookings, has been charged with conspiracy and accessory charges in an alleged attempt to cover up the crimes.
U.S. attorney for northern Iowa, Leif Olson, stated that the charges filed are the most serious readily provable counts and that all originated in Iowa. Details regarding the cause and manner of Wendel's death have not yet been released by authorities, citing ongoing investigation and Justice Department policy.
Wendel, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, was remembered in her obituary as having a vibrant personality and a zest for life. She was raised by her grandparents and enjoyed attending powwows.
According to court records, Milk was in jail on unrelated driving under the influence and eluding police allegations when Wendel's body was found. His name surfaced in connection with the case early on, but prosecutors did not formally link him to the death until the charges were filed this week. The investigation was completed in late May.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley noted in a March news conference that the decision to commute Milk's sentence was made by Noem. Jackley stated that it is not uncommon for law enforcement to oppose commutations, and he had not seen the sealed commutation documents.
Noem, a Republican, served as South Dakota's lone congressperson from 2011 to 2019 and as governor from 2019 to 2025. She recently joined NovaRed Mining, a Canadian firm, in a strategic advisory role. Prior to her governorship, she served as Homeland Security secretary before being dismissed by President Donald Trump. Trump later appointed her as a special envoy for "The Shield of the Americas."