Sioux Falls Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Related to Disappearance and Death of 14-year-old Sioux Falls Girl

Mark Milk, who is alleged to be involved in the disappearance and death of a 14-year-old Sioux Falls girl, McKenna Wendel, was ordered detained, pending a detention hearing set for 2:30 p.m. on July 30, 2026, following his initial appearance today in federal court.

Milk, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Trial in Milk's case is set for September 28, 2026, in the United States District Court in Sioux City.­

Milk and his co-defendant, Jon Rogness of Brookings, South Dakota, were indicted on June 17, 2026. The indictment charges Milk with five counts, alleging that he:

Possessed with intent to distribute and distributed cocaine, the use of which resulted in McKenna Wendel's death;

• Possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed THC;
  
• Transported a minor across a state line with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity;
  
• Conspired to conceal objects with the intent to impair their integrity and availability for an official proceeding; and
  
• Concealed objects with the intent to impair their availability for an official proceeding.

If convicted, Milk faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment; a $1,000,000 fine; and up to 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Rogness's initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for August 6, 2026. The indictment charges Rogness with two counts:

• Conspiracy to conceal objects with the intent to impair their integrity and availability for an official proceeding; and
  
• Accessory to Milk after the alleged cocaine possession and distribution resulted in McKenna Wendel's death.

If convicted, Rogness faces a possible maximum sentence of 35 years' imprisonment; a $250,000 fine; and up to 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

As with any criminal case, an indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. It is being investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department; Sioux Falls Fire Rescue; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Sheriff's Department; Minnehaha County Search and Rescue; Brookings County, South Dakota, Sheriff's Office; Brookings Police Department; Brookings Fire Department; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Brookings County Attorney's Office; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Attorney's Office; the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation; Iowa State Patrol; Lyon County, Iowa, Sheriff's Department; Lyon County Attorney's Office; the South Dakota Attorney General's Office; U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation; and U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/​cgi-bin/‌​‌login.pl. The case file number is 26-4032.

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