Missing man found dead in Charles Mix County

MARTY - Officials are still trying to determine a cause of death for the man found Wednesday in a rural Charles Mix County field.
Dominic Fischer was found dead at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in a rural agricultural field on tribal ground, according to authorities. A release by the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office said Fischer was one of three occupants of a vehicle that slid into the ditch due to poor road conditions near 300th Street and 293rd Avenue, which is 3 miles north and 4 miles east of Marty. Yankton Sioux Tribal Police Chief Chris Saunsoci said the cause of death can’t be determined until there is an autopsy, but hopes to know within a couple of days. Authorities said Fischer, an American Indian male, left the vehicle for assistance after it slid into the ditch. He was reported as missing since 2 a.m. Tuesday, the night after a winter storm rolled through much of eastern South Dakota. Saunsoci said tribal officials were notified by members of Fischer’s family around 4 or 4:30 Tuesday evening that Fischer was missing. He said family members had also contacted county authorities, who soon reached out to tribal officials to help find Fischer. Saunsoci said Charles Mix County Sheriff Randy Thaler called him Tuesday evening, and they put together a search party. The Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office, Charles Mix County Emergency Management, Wagner Fire Department, Yankton Sioux Tribal Police and volunteers searched for Fischer. Authorities also sent a press release statewide a little before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night with Fischer’s picture and information. “It was more or less an effort between all agencies,” Saunsoci said. The Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office deferred comment to tribal authorities. The incident originated on county jurisdiction, but Saunsoci said all three occupants of the vehicle were tribal members, so the investigation is being handled by the Yankton Sioux Tribal Police. “We are working with the county,” he said. The other people in the vehicle were picked up by a passerby and are OK, Sauncosi said. The vehicle was later towed from the scene. He said tribal officials are trying to nail down a more specific timeline of events, and to find out why Fischer left the vehicle in inclement weather. “There’s still those questions that we want to help the family answer,” he said. “What we want to find out is why.”MARTY - Officials are still trying to determine a cause of death for the man found Wednesday in a rural Charles Mix County field.
Dominic Fischer was found dead at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in a rural agricultural field on tribal ground, according to authorities. A release by the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office said Fischer was one of three occupants of a vehicle that slid into the ditch due to poor road conditions near 300th Street and 293rd Avenue, which is 3 miles north and 4 miles east of Marty.Yankton Sioux Tribal Police Chief Chris Saunsoci said the cause of death can’t be determined until there is an autopsy, but hopes to know within a couple of days.Authorities said Fischer, an American Indian male, left the vehicle for assistance after it slid into the ditch. He was reported as missing since 2 a.m. Tuesday, the night after a winter storm rolled through much of eastern South Dakota.Saunsoci said tribal officials were notified by members of Fischer’s family around 4 or 4:30 Tuesday evening that Fischer was missing. He said family members had also contacted county authorities, who soon reached out to tribal officials to help find Fischer.Saunsoci said Charles Mix County Sheriff Randy Thaler called him Tuesday evening, and they put together a search party. The Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office, Charles Mix County Emergency Management, Wagner Fire Department, Yankton Sioux Tribal Police and volunteers searched for Fischer. Authorities also sent a press release statewide a little before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night with Fischer’s picture and information.“It was more or less an effort between all agencies,” Saunsoci said.The Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office deferred comment to tribal authorities. The incident originated on county jurisdiction, but Saunsoci said all three occupants of the vehicle were tribal members, so the investigation is being handled by the Yankton Sioux Tribal Police.“We are working with the county,” he said.The other people in the vehicle were picked up by a passerby and are OK, Sauncosi said. The vehicle was later towed from the scene. He said tribal officials are trying to nail down a more specific timeline of events, and to find out why Fischer left the vehicle in inclement weather.“There’s still those questions that we want to help the family answer,” he said. “What we want to find out is why.”