PIERRE – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on October 5, 2026.
Rosilee Grey Owl, 30, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Grey Owl was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025. She pleaded guilty on July 1, 2026.
On the evening of September 2, 2025, Grey Owl was involved in an argument with the victim, an adult male, at his residence in Fort Thompson, SD, within the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation. Grey Owl became irate and swung a shovel at the victim, striking him in the head and causing a deep laceration to the back of his head. The victim was seen by an ambulance crew but refused additional medical help and went back to his room. The next morning, the victim was found deceased.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Plains Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Grey Owl was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — South Dakota — U.S. Department of Justice press release.