As the investigation into 14-year-old McKenna Wendel’s death continues, law enforcement confirmed this week that the blizzard-like conditions March 14-15 has not affected the case.
McKenna was reported missing on March 15 in Sioux Falls, while a significant early spring snowstorm brought in anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of snow, strong winds and icy roads across the eastern part of the state. Her remains were recovered by law enforcement March 19 in Brookings County, along Six-Mile Creek a couple miles west of town.
According to the South Dakota Department of Transportation, Interstate 29 closed late-night March 14 from Sioux Falls to Brookings northbound and southbound and did not reopen until late March 15. State highways and county roads also became impassable, with government agencies issuing multiple no travel advisories amid blizzard warnings.
Temperatures were about 25 degrees that weekend, with wind gusts up to 40 miles an hour.
“Weather can make investigations challenging in South Dakota, of course,” said Sgt. Aaron Benson, the public information officer for the Sioux Falls Police Department. “Even though there were tough conditions during that weekend, our investigation was not hampered by the weather in any way.”
Asked about whether McKenna’s body was placed in that area after the storm, or whether snow melt or runoff may have carried her from someplace else or interfered with DNA evidence, Benson said he would not release “any further details about evidence or of the remains,


