MURDER
CASE #: 2023-103
Michelle Elbow Shield
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Summary:
Michelle Elbow Shield, 26, an Oglala Lakota woman from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, went missing in September 2023 after last being seen in Rapid City. Her remains were discovered in January 2025 in a remote area near Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Reservation and identified through advanced DNA testing. The case remains under investigation as a homicide.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Michelle Elbow Shield, age 26, went missing in September 2023. She was last seen on October 6, 2023, in the Rapid City, South Dakota area, specifically near a motel off Interstate-90. She was a young mother of two who had moved to Rapid City from her home on the Pine Ridge Reservation approximately one year prior to her disappearance. After prolonged silence, her family grew concerned and her great-aunt reported her missing to authorities in early December 2023. The Rapid City Police Department and tribal investigators began working to locate her, generating numerous leads over months of investigation.
Additional Details:
On January 15, 2025, remains were recovered from a rural area in Jackson County near Wanblee, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation, over 100 miles from where she was last seen. The discovery was made after advocates Francisca Tobacco and Lissa Yellow Bird of Sahnish Scouts received a tip about possible remains in that location. Due to the condition of the remains, DNA testing was required for identification. The Rapid City Police Department partnered with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing & Murdered Unit and contracted with Othram, a forensic laboratory in Texas, to conduct advanced DNA testing. Othram scientists used forensic-grade genome sequencing to develop a DNA profile and located a potential relative, with a direct DNA sample from a family member confirming the identification in February 2025. The case was classified as an ongoing homicide investigation as of late February 2025. In October 2024, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Rapid City Police Department issued a $5,000 reward for information regarding her disappearance. Craig Returns From Scout appeared for a sentencing hearing, and a pair of juveniles were arrested in connection with the investigation. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Remains identified as Michelle Elbow Shield through DNA testing by Othram laboratory
Human remains discovered near Wanblee, South Dakota by MMIW advocates Francisca Tobacco and Lissa Yellow Bird of Sahnish Scouts
Michelle Elbow Shield reported missing to authorities by family members
Michelle Elbow Shield last seen in Rapid City near a motel off Interstate-90
Michelle Elbow Shield went missing from the Rapid City, South Dakota area in September 2023
Associated Persons
Sheila R. (Mother) - Living
Craig R. (Person of Interest) - Living
Rena R. (Sibling) - Living
Wilma R. (Grandmother) - Living
Unknown (Suspect) - Living
Cody R. (Other) - Unknown
Case Content Disclaimer: The details on this case page are sourced from numerous locations to include family, friends, news postings and government public releases. Solve the Case, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of any content as case pages are living documents that frequently update as case details expand.