What to know about the recent homicides in Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls has seen a rise in crime these past few months, with four out of five homicide cases unsolved.

Branson Sparks

Sioux Falls has seen a rise in crime these past few months, with four out of five homicide cases unsolved.

Chloe Hartje, Staff Writer

In the past four months, Sioux Falls has been devastated by five homicides, yet police have only made one arrest. For Sioux Falls, it is rare to have an unsolved crime and investigators are dedicated to closing these cases. 

The only suspect to have been charged is Amir Beaudion, who is responsible for the abduction and homicide of Pasqalina Badi in early Jan. Beaudion is facing several charges, including first-degree murder in Lincoln County. 

This leaves four other cases unsolved and under investigation. Here is a rundown of the facts and status of these murders in Sioux Falls:

 

Casey Paul Bonhorst, 30: On the night of Feb. 26, a Domino’s pizza delivery driver was shot and killed after he made a delivery to a residence on the 2800 block of East Bragstad Drive. 

Law enforcement believes the incident was an attempted robbery. As of now, police have no suspects and are unsure of whether it was random or targeted. 

According to a witness, a man wearing a light-hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants ran from the scene. Residents in the area have been directed by authorities to check their surveillance videos for evidence and their yards for any items the suspect might have dropped.

The SFPD announced a reward of up to $15,000 for any information regarding the homicide, and Domino’s Pizza is also offering up to $10,000.  

 

Dakota Sun Bearheels, 27: During an altercation with another man on Jan. 17 in central Sioux Falls, Bearheels was shot twice. A week later, he died at a hospital from his injuries. 

The incident took place inside an apartment on the 300 block of S. Duluth Ave. The man who shot Bearheels left the scene but called police 15 minutes later to turn himself in. Police are investigating if the shooting was done in self-defense and have not charged the suspect. 

Apparently there was also a woman in the apartment who heard the gunshots. The suspect had been fighting with the woman earlier, and Bearheels got involved. 

It has not yet been said whether Bearheel’s death would be deemed a homicide, but the investigation is still on-going. 

 

Dugan Tobacco, 25: Dugan was stabbed, along with another man, at an apartment complex on the 4500 block of S. Louise Avenue. Police found the two men with multiple stab wounds outside the complex on the morning of Dec. 10, 2019. 

The other victim was hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries, but Dugan eventually died later the same morning.

 No arrests have been made, but police said everyone involved in the case is accounted for. There has not been any additional information released other than that there is no threat to the public. 

 

Benjamin Donahue lll, 37: Late Oct. 26, Donahue was shot twice in the head outside of a downtown club. Court documents show that he was involved in a verbal altercation with another man, Max Bolden, 36. Donahue was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. 

Police say Donahue and Bolden knew each other and had “bad blood” between them. 

Bolden is wanted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Krista Mae Kruckenberg, 27, is being charged with two counts of being an accessory to a felony. Both Bolden and Kruckenberg were on the run, maintaining low-profiles. Although police are still searching for Bolden, Kruckenberg turned herself in during Jan. Anyone assisting Bolden could be arrested for harboring a fugitive. 

The day after the shooting, Oct. 27, detectives interviewed Kruckenberg as a witness where she denied several times that Bolden shot Donahue and said that that the shooting was not premeditated. 

A search warrant was served at a townhome near Overlook and Bragstad Drives but Bolden was not in the residence. He is still not in custody as the search continues.