Murder suspect arrested

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal Staff Writer | Thursday, June 12, 2003

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PORCUPINE -- A Rapid City man has been charged with second-degree murder in the Tuesday beating death of a Porcupine man.

Conan White Face, 24, pleaded not guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to charges in the death of William "Roly" Eagle Bull, 37. A second beating victim, Conrad Thunder Hawk, 43, remained in critical condition Wednesday evening at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Charles "Festus" Fischer, supervisory special agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Criminal Investigations Division at Pine Ridge, said Oglala Sioux Tribal Police responded to a disturbance at a home two miles east of Porcupine about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. They found Eagle Bull, who lived at the home, dead at the scene.

Thunder Hawk, who was visiting the home, was found seriously injured. He was taken by ambulance to the Pine Ridge hospital, then airlifted to Regional Hospital.

Fischer said witnesses gave police a description and license number of a car that had left the home after the assault. Tribal police stopped the vehicle north of Rockyford about 5:45 a.m. Three men and one woman in the vehicle were questioned, and White Face was taken into custody.

According to an affidavit filed in federal court, a witness told investigators that White Face used a six-foot metal pipe to assault Eagle Bull.

The affidavit said White Face told an investigator he had hit Eagle Bull in the body with the pipe after Eagle Bull punched him in the head while he slept.

Four people connected with the incident were arrested on tribal charges of intoxication, according to the affidavit.

White Face is being held in Rapid City as a flight risk and a danger to the community. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com