Sioux Falls man on parole for manslaughter is charged with providing drugs that killed his niece

(This story was originally published by South Dakota Searchlight. Edited for space )

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — A Sioux Falls man on parole for a 1990s manslaughter conviction has been indicted on federal charges in connection with the death of his 14-year-old niece, a case that has intensified scrutiny of South Dakota’s parole system and prompted new state supervision reforms.

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Iowa on Wednesday charged 51-year-old Mark Milk with five felony counts, alleging he supplied the cocaine that killed McKenna Wendel on March 14, provided her THC, transported her across state lines for illegal sexual activity, and attempted to conceal evidence. Wendel is identified by initials in the indictment, but officials at a Thursday press conference referred to her by name.

A second man, 38-year-old Jon Rogness of Brookings, was indicted on two felony counts accusing him of helping Milk hide evidence. Rogness, also on parole, had been released in 2024 after serving 16 years of a 45 year manslaughter sentence. He was already facing state drug charges when Wendel died and is now incarcerated at the South Dakota State Penitentiary.

Milk has been held in the Minnehaha County Jail since March 17, when he was arrested after allegedly fleeing a drunken driving stop. Federal court records did not list attorneys for either man as of Thursday afternoon.

Wendel’s disappearance and death drew widespread public interest in the three months before the indictments. A Facebook group titled “Justice for McKenna Wendel,” created shortly after she went missing, grew to more than 3,400 members and became a hub for speculation about Milk and Rogness. The group shared livestreams of Wendel’s funeral and Thursday’s press conference.

Wendel, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, lived with her grandparents in Sioux Falls. She left home on March 13 and did not return. Her grandparents reported her missing on March 15, prompting a multi county search. Her body was found the morning of March 19 in rural Brookings County. As the document states, “Her body was discovered just after 9 a.m. March 19 in rural Brookings.”

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley visited the scene and told reporters he had assured the family that agencies were working together “to find answers.”

At Thursday’s press conference in Sioux City, U.S. Attorney Leif Olson praised the cooperation of law enforcement agencies in South Dakota and Iowa but declined to elaborate on investigative details. When asked whether the crimes occurred in Lyon County, Iowa, Olson said, “that’s something that we will prove at trial.”

He also declined to discuss the relationship between Milk and Rogness.

Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum acknowledged the public’s impatience but emphasized that investigators needed time to build a solid case. “Good investigations and good work take time,” he said.

Milk’s arrest on March 17 came four days after Wendel disappeared. According to police, he fled a traffic stop, ran a stop sign, and crashed into another vehicle before attempting to escape on foot. At a bond hearing two days later, prosecutors said Milk refused commands, yelled at officers to shoot him, and had to be tased. The transcript notes, “He refused to comply with commands and ultimately had to be tased.”

Prosecutors also said Milk had been “lying about where he was living” and was “noncompliant with parole.”

Judge Sara Pokela ordered him held on a $10,000 cash bond.

Milk’s release from prison had already been a subject of public debate. He was sentenced to life in 1994 for killing Shawn Peneaux in Tripp County after two fights on Oct. 3, 1993. Court records say Milk stabbed Peneaux and kicked him in the head with steel toed boots, killing him.

While incarcerated, Milk worked for Metal Craft Industries, participated in powwows, and served as a mentor in the Alternatives to Violence program. At his 2022 commutation hearing, family members — including Wendel — spoke in support of his release. The document notes that Wendel “was at the hearing and asked the board to support his release.”

The Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously recommended commuting his sentence from life to 240 years. Then Gov. Kristi Noem approved the commutation in February 2023, making Milk eligible for parole. The board granted parole in June 2024, after Milk had served about 30 years.

Milk initially worked for Metal Craft after his release, but owner Terry Van Zanten said he fired Milk months before the March arrest.

“He was doing really well. But after a couple of months, he got a girlfriend, and we could tell he was going the wrong direction,” Van Zanten said.

Milk later worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant, a job allowed under parole rules with agent approval.

Corrections officials confirmed Thursday that Rogness returned to prison after failing a drug test and losing contact with his parole agent. The Department of Corrections would not say whether either man would have qualified for the enhanced supervision measures implemented after Wendel’s death.

The case has fueled political debate over parole supervision in South Dakota. Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a “Smarter Supervision Initiative” on April 7, aimed at tightening oversight of parolees. Three weeks later, a Sioux Falls police officer was shot and injured by a man on parole, prompting Rhoden to unveil additional reforms, including:

• hiring five new parole agents

• faster sanctions for drug related violations

• an “enhanced compliance unit” to monitor parolees during nights and weekends

Corrections Secretary Nick Lamb updated the parole violation policy on March 15, requiring officers to “respond to every violation detected in order to hold offenders accountable.”

Rhoden’s office declined to comment on Noem’s decision to commute Milk’s sentence. A spokesperson noted that Rhoden considers only positive recommendations from the parole board when reviewing clemency requests.

Noem has faced criticism for issuing holiday season commutations in 2022 and 2023 for inmates who had not been screened by the parole board. Milk’s case, however, followed the standard process: application, board hearing, recommendation, and gubernatorial approval.

Milk’s relationship with Wendel was well documented. A 2018 Argus Leader story described her sitting on his lap during a prison powwow event. His parents told the parole board they visited him weekly, often bringing Wendel because “Mark likes to see his little niece.”

Wendel’s mother, Milk’s sister, tearfully urged the board to give him a second chance. “I just love him very much. I hope to see good things coming,” she said.

Two years later, Wendel was dead, and Milk is accused of supplying the drugs that killed her.

As the federal case moves forward, questions remain about how Milk and Rogness were supervised and whether the state’s new parole reforms might have prevented Wendel’s death. Corrections officials say each parolee is evaluated individually to determine the appropriate level of supervision.

Both men remain in custody as federal prosecutors prepare to present their case.

The post Sioux Falls man on parole for manslaughter is charged with providing drugs that killed his niece first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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