Mark Milk, freed after nearly three decades in prison, is now federally charged in the death of 14-year-old McKenna Wendel.
SIOUX FALLS, SD — A South Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by then-Gov. Kristi Noem has been charged in federal court in connection with the March death of his 14-year-old niece.
Mark Milk, 51, of Sioux Falls, faces five federal counts tied to the death of McKenna Wendel, who was reported missing March 13 and found dead March 19 outside Brookings. The case has renewed attention on a 2023 commutation that made Milk eligible for parole after he had served nearly 30 years for manslaughter.
Federal prosecutors say Milk is accused of distributing cocaine that resulted in Wendel’s death, transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and conspiring to conceal evidence. A second man, Jon Rogness, 38, of Brookings, is also charged in the case. The charges are allegations, and both men are presumed innocent unless convicted. Authorities announced the indictments after a monthslong investigation that stretched across South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.
Wendel was last seen alive in Sioux Falls early March 14, one day after she was reported missing. Her body was found five days later in a rural area near Brookings, about an hour north of Sioux Falls. Police had said during the search that she may have been transported in a vehicle and may have traveled through more than one state. Milk was jailed on unrelated allegations of driving under the influence and eluding police around the time Wendel’s body was found. His name surfaced publicly early in the investigation, but prosecutors did not formally link him to Wendel’s death until the federal charges were filed.
The case is being handled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. U.S. Attorney Leif Olson said at a briefing that federal prosecutors brought charges tied to conduct they allege happened in Iowa. FBI Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel called the case “horrific” and said investigations involving children are among the most painful for law enforcement. Authorities have not released all details of Wendel’s cause of death, and officials have said parts of the investigation remain active. The indictment also accuses Rogness of helping Milk avoid prosecution and conspiring to conceal objects from official proceedings.
Milk’s earlier conviction came from a 1993 fatal stabbing in Winner, South Dakota. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced in 1994 to life in prison without parole. Noem commuted that sentence in February 2023, changing it to a long term of years and making Milk eligible for parole. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley later said the final decision to commute the sentence belonged to the governor under the state constitution. The commutation file was sealed, limiting public access to the records that shaped the decision.
The commutation placed Milk before the state parole board, and he was later released under supervision. Reports from the parole process showed Wendel’s name listed among guests at a June 2024 parole hearing. The connection has drawn new attention because Wendel was Milk’s niece and because Milk had described family ties while seeking a reduced sentence. Noem has not publicly commented on the new federal case. The South Dakota governor’s office, law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors have not released a full record explaining how the commutation was weighed against objections or past case files.
Wendel’s obituary remembered her as a teen with a vibrant personality who loved animals, volleyball, powwows and time with her grandparents. She and her grandparents were members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her death drew a wide search in March, with police asking the public for information while snow and cold weather complicated efforts to track her movements. The discovery of her body outside Brookings shifted the case from a missing-person search to a death investigation involving several police agencies and federal authorities.
The next steps will move through federal court in Iowa, where Milk and Rogness are expected to answer the charges. Prosecutors have not released a complete trial schedule. Autopsy details and some evidence remain undisclosed as the case continues. As of June 22, the federal indictment stands as the central public record tying the commutation, Milk’s parole and Wendel’s death into one continuing criminal case.
Author note: Last updated June 22, 2026.