SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — We have an update on one of the Missing, Murdered and Indigenous Persons cases we’ve been following since 2022.
Jonathan Eagle Elk, who was admitted to beating two homeless people to death in Pine Ridge, has now been found incompetent to proceed with court hearings at this time.
One of the people Eagle Elk admitted to beating was Maria Makes Him First. KELOLAND News was invited to her funeral on July 27, 2022. In this case, Eagle Elk pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for aiding and abetting in the death of Makes Him First.
Eagle Elk also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Louis Swift Bird who was found dead a month before Makes Him First.
In May of this year, a judge ordered a competency evaluation for Eagle Elk and last week, documents were filed saying it was found that he is suffering from a mental defect rendering him unable to assist in his defense and unable to understand the criminal proceedings.
The court documents say Eagle Elk will be admitted to a federal medical facility for further evaluation and treatment. This comes after several motions to withdraw his plea of guilty were filed and denied.
