Mark Milk had spent nearly three decades behind bars on a South Dakota manslaughter conviction. But he got a break when former Homeland Security director and former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem commuted his sentence in 2023.
New Charges in Niece's Death
Now, Milk, 51, and another man are charged in the death of his niece, 14-year-old McKenna Wendel, who had been reported missing on March 13 from Sioux Falls. Five days later, her body was discovered outside the small town of Brookings, north of Sioux Falls.
“This is a horrific case,” FBI special agent Gene Kowel said. “There are no cases that we investigate that are more heart-wrenching and more tragic than the ones that involve children or the death of a child.”
Charges Against Milk
Milk faces five counts related to her death. According to local media reports, Milk has been charged with possession with intent to deliver the cocaine that caused Wendel’s death. Court documents revealed that Milk is also charged with transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Cops allege that Milk intentionally distributed a substance containing cocaine in Iowa on or about March 14.
“Furthermore, the death of M.W. resulted from the use of the controlled substance defendant possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed,” the indictment stated. “All charges occurred within the Northern District of Iowa,” U.S. attorney in Iowa Ron Parsons said. “The charges that we brought are the most serious, readily provable.”
Besides Milk, Jon Rogness, 38, of Brookings faces conspiracy and accessory charges in an alleged attempt to cover up the crimes.
Victim's Background
Victim McKenna Wendel was reportedly raised by her grandparents. Her obituary said she loved animals, attending pow wows and had a “vibrant personality and a zest for life.” The obit said: “She loved the singing and the beautiful sounds of the drums.”
Milk's Criminal History
Milk had been sentenced to life in prison when he was 19 for stabbing a man named Shawn Peneaux to death. Noem’s commutation order read: “The application of Mark Milk for commutation of sentence having been presented to me, together with facts pertaining to this case, and it appearing there from that the ends of justice would be best served by granting the Commutation of Sentence requested.”
But when Wendel’s body was discovered, Milk was yet again behind bars. His latest run-in with cops was for driving under the influence and eluding police. He was also on detectives’ radar in Wendel’s death.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said that the decision to commute Milk’s life sentence was strictly Noem’s. The commutation documents were sealed and even he had not seen them, he noted.
Noem, 54, a Republican, was fired from her Homeland Security post in March by U.S. President Donald Trump. She was kicked to the curb over her handling of the immigration crackdown file.
