Investigators Believe Wendel Was Killed Elsewhere, Body Dumped Near Brookings
BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO) — A memorial stands at a bridge with the initials “MW” engraved at the top of a cross amidst flowers on 214th Street in rural Brookings County. State’s Attorney Dan Nelson says the search in the county for 14-year-old McKenna Wendel of Sioux Falls began on the night of March 18.
“It was Brookings County law enforcement, it was Sioux Falls law enforcement, it was DCI, and then it was our local fire department that all participated in that search and then eventual recovery,” Nelson said Tuesday.
Nelson says Wendel was found in the water 100 feet from the road on the south side of the small bridge southwest of the city of Brookings, on a river’s east side. Wendel was last seen March 13 in Sioux Falls; she was found March 19.
“Based on where we’re at right now, the investigation has led us to believe that the death did not occur in Brookings County, that the recovery is the only thing that happened in Brookings County,” Nelson said.
Sioux Falls Police say circumstances surrounding Wendel’s death are suspicious. Investigators have not named any potential suspects.
“I’m very thankful that we were able to locate and recover her body,” Nelson said. “I think that provides some type of closure for the family. That’s not always the case with missing people.”
KELOLAND News spoke Tuesday with Todd Voss; McKenna was found on his land. Voss says the story has to be focused on Wendel and the pursuit of justice for her. The teenager attended George McGovern Middle School in Sioux Falls, and school board president Nan Kelly spoke about the loss people are feeling at Monday night’s Sioux Falls School Board meeting.
“This is heartbreaking for the entire Sioux Falls community,” Kelly said. “Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends, teachers, classmates who supported and loved the student. Definitely moments like this remind us how connected we all are. And how important it is that we support one another.”
The case has generated a lot of interest, and if someone decides to comment about it online, Nelson asks them to not share misleading information. He asks people not to engage in speculation.
