Mark Milk, 51, is one of two men charged in the death of 14-year-old McKenna Wendel, whose body was found near Brookings, South Dakota, in March 2026. Milk had been serving a life sentence for manslaughter until his sentence was commuted in 2023 by then-Governor Kristi Noem, a key ally of President Donald Trump. The commutation made him eligible for parole, and he was released.
Details of the Case
McKenna Wendel was last seen alive in Sioux Falls on March 14, 2026. Her body was discovered five days later outside Brookings, about an hour's drive north. Milk, her uncle, faces five federal counts including possession with intent to deliver cocaine and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Another man, Jon Rogness, 38, faces conspiracy and accessory charges for allegedly attempting to cover up the crimes.
Authorities have not released the cause or manner of death, citing Justice Department policy. An autopsy was performed but findings are sealed. FBI special agent Gene Kowel called it “a horrific case” and “more heart-wrenching and tragic than the ones that involve children or the death of a child.”
Kristi Noem's Role
Noem, a Republican, served as South Dakota's governor from 2019 to 2025 and previously as the state's lone congresswoman. She later became Homeland Security Secretary under Trump but was fired in March 2026 amid criticism over immigration and disaster response. Trump then appointed her as special envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a new organization focused on democracy and security in the Western Hemisphere.
In February 2023, Noem commuted Milk's life sentence for a 1993 manslaughter conviction. Milk, then 19, was involved in a stabbing death during altercations in Winner, South Dakota. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley stated that the commutation decision was “strictly” Noem's and noted that law enforcement often opposes such commutations. The commutation documents remain sealed.
Impact and Reactions
Milk was in jail on unrelated charges of driving under the influence and eluding police when Wendel's body was found. The charges against Milk and Rogness originated in Iowa, and no lawyers were listed for them. Wendel's obituary described her as having a “vibrant personality and a zest for life” and noted she was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
The case has drawn attention to Noem's commutation decision, with Jackley remarking, “It is fairly often that you see law enforcement oppose commutations.” The investigation continues, with authorities keeping details confidential to protect the probe.
