FBI Announces $25,000 Reward for Information in the 2024 Murder of Alton Mesteth Near Kyle, South Dakota
Rapid City, S.D./ July 15, 2026 —The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the January 27, 2024, murder of Alton Mesteth, age 54, of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
In the early morning hours of January 27, 2024, an unidentified person or persons shot into Mesteth’s home from a vehicle, killing him. The murder occurred near Kyle, South Dakota. Investigators believe Mesteth was likely not the intended target of the shooting.
“The FBI will never stop seeking justice for victims, families, and our communities,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Someone in the community has information that will help us find that justice and bring closure to a grieving family and the Pine Ridge community. Now is the time to bring that information into the light.”
This reward is part of the FBI’s surge of resources into Indian Country investigations under Operation Steadfast Promise and Operation Not Forgotten.
The FBI is requesting anyone with information regarding Mesteth’s death to contact the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI or by submitting information to tips.fbi.gov. You may also contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
FBI’s Operation Steadfast Promise is a comprehensive surge of resources to address a wide range of violent crime threats including gangs and criminal enterprises, violent crimes against children, and fugitive apprehension cases while working to improve public safety in Tribal communities. Under this surge, Operation Not Forgotten seeks justice for victims of unresolved crimes. The goal of Operation Not Forgotten is to move cases closer to resolution, provide services for victims, and to bring offenders to justice, who have so far escaped it.
FBI Minneapolis
Minneapolis Public Affairs
MP_PublicAffairs@fbi.gov
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
