Federal Jury Finds Mission Man Guilty of Second Degree Murder

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Frank White Thunder, age 38, of Mission, South Dakota, was found guilty of Second Degree Murder, Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Robbery, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender following a four-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The jury issued its verdict on January 30, 2026.

The charge for Second Degree Murder carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge for Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender carries a mandatory minimum five years in federal prison up to a maximum of 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge for Robbery carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charges for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

White Thunder and co-defendants Jesse White Thunder, age 40, and Michael Leader Charge, age 25, both also of Mission, South Dakota, were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.

At trial, the evidence established that on the evening of October 22, 2024, Michael Leader Charge drove Frank White Thunder and Jesse White Thunder to a residence in the Antelope housing community, near Mission. Frank White Thunder confronted the victim outside the residence and stabbed him in the torso with a martial-arts style sword, mortally wounding the victim. Jesse White Thunder was standing nearby and immediately took from the victim's pockets two imitation pistols. Surveillance video showed the defendants' vehicle leaving the scene and all three men were located the next day. Frank White Thunder was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2008. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of any change in residence. At the time of the murder, he had an active federal arrest warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.

On October 6, 2025, Jesse White Thunder and Michael Leader Charge each pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact to an Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. They are each awaiting sentencing.

"This was a senseless, intentional killing," said U.S. Attorney Parsons. "We will do our best at the upcoming sentencing to make sure this defendant never has the opportunity to murder again."

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the United States Marshals Service, and the FBI. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Kucera was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.