SD child’s death highlights jurisdictional blur

WAGNER, S.D. (AP) – Officials say a rural Wagner housing development where a 2-year-old girl was believed slain straddles city, state and tribal jurisdiction, hampering law enforcement.

Yankton Sioux Tribe Secretary Glenford Sully tells the Argus Leader that there are a lot of officers around, but they can’t always work together as well as they should. He thinks the system needs to be overhauled.

Authorities have deemed the girl’s death a homicide. They have taken a 12-year-old male cousin of the girl into custody but haven’t charged him. They also are considering charges against the boy’s mother, who also was the girl’s legal guardian, and her husband. Authorities say the July Fourth death wasn’t reported for hours.

The newspaper reports that the Tower Housing development is known for frequent drug- and alcohol-related incidents.

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Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com