A 33-year-old Rapid City man has been arrested in connection with the death of his infant son, following a welfare check that escalated into a homicide investigation within 24 hours.
According to the Rapid City Police Department, officers were called to a residence at approximately 9:05 a.m. on May 7 for a welfare check after a reporting party expressed concern about the safety of an infant, Melinko Bagola. The caller reported that the child had been left in the care of his father, Tyler Slow Bear, but said the infant could not be located when attempts were made to check on his well-being.
Police learned that the last confirmed sighting of the infant was April 19.
When officers arrived at the residence, they made contact with Slow Bear but were unable to locate the child. Slow Bear initially told officers that a family member had the infant. Investigators later located that family member in another part of the state and determined she never had custody of the child.
Slow Bear was brought in for further questioning regarding the child’s disappearance. During the interview, investigators determined that Slow Bear had assaulted the infant while the child was in his care. Police say the child later died as a result of the injuries.
Authorities say Slow Bear then concealed the infant’s remains at an undeveloped outdoor location in Rapid City. Based on information provided by Slow Bear, officers went to the location and recovered the child’s remains.
Slow Bear was subsequently arrested on charges of second-degree murder and improper disposal of a body. He was transported to the Pennington County Jail.
“The work our officers poured into this case is a testament to their diligence and dedication,” Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick said in a statement. “Our team, in collaboration with our local law enforcement partners, worked to thoroughly progress this case from a welfare check to a homicide arrest in less than 24 hours. The loss of a child in our community is never easy, and our hearts ache for those who loved baby Melinko.”
An autopsy has been scheduled as the investigation into Melinko Bagola’s death continues. The case is being investigated with assistance from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
Slow Bear remains in custody pending further court proceedings. All charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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