Dec. 19, 2025:
A South Dakota Men’s State Penitentiary inmate and a prison employee have been indicted on nine felony charges in connection with the November (Nov. 7, 2025) drug overdose death of prison inmate serving time for crimes in Hughes, Stanley, Sully, Pennington and Minnehaha counties.
25 year old prison medical aide Natalie Bernice Krause and 26 year old inmate Cole Roberts Waters were indicted this week (Dec. 16, 2025) in Minnehaha County Circuit Court in connection with the death of 33 year old Travis Long Fox.
According to the state Department of Corrections, Long Fox was found unresponsive in his cell at the Penitentiary in Sioux Falls Nov. 4, 2025. He was transported to a hospital where he passed away on Nov. 7. Long Fox was serving sentences for receiving/transferring a stolen vehicle from Pennington County, grand theft from Hughes County, intentional damage to property and third-degree burglary from Stanley County, second-degree burglary from Sully County, and possession of a controlled substance from Minnehaha County.
Krause and Waters are each charged with one count of:
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Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death.
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The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
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Aiding, Abetting or Advising Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death.
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The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
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Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death.
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The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
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Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids).
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The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
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Krause also was indicted on one count of Possession of an Unauthorized Article (Synthetic Cannabinoids) with Intent to Deliver to an Inmate.
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The maximum sentence is 10 years in prison.
Waters is currently serving a 65-year prison sentence for a First Degree Manslaughter conviction from Pennington County. He could face a doubling of the sentence if found guilty on any of the new charges.
Krause and Waters are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says charges have now been filed in three of the eight suspected drug overdose deaths of prison inmates investigated this year by his office’s Division of Criminal Investigation.
Inmate Manarion Fuse and Melibu Ross of Sioux Falls, who was an acquaintance of an inmate, are scheduled to stand trial in January 2026 for distribution of controlled substances that led to the deaths of two different inmates.
Fuse is charged with one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance (synthetic cannabinoids) that resulted in the death of inmate Anthony Richards on Feb. 6, 2025; and one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, (synthetic cannabinoids). Fuse is alleged to have provided the drug to Richards who died that night. Fuse faces a maximum of 70 years in prison.
Ross, 49, of Sioux Falls is charged with distribution of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, resulting in the death of inmate Jason Garreau, who died on May 15, 2025. She is alleged to have brought the drug into the prison when she visited Garreau on May 14. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The deaths of the five other inmates remain under investigation.
Nov. 10, 2025:
A state prison offender serving time for crimes in Hughes, Stanley, Sully, Pennington and Minnehaha counties has died.
According to the South Dakota Department of Corrections, 33 year old Travis Long Foxwas found unresponsive in his cell at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls on Tuesday (Nov. 4, 2025). He was transported to a local hospital where he passed away on Friday (Nov. 7). An autopsy has been ordered.
Long Fox was serving sentences for receiving/transferring a stolen vehicle from Pennington County, grand theft from Hughes County, intentional damage to property and third-degree burglary from Stanley County, second-degree burglary from Sully County, and possession of a controlled substance from Minnehaha County.
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the Division of Criminal Investigation, with the Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, is actively investing the death of Long Fox. Jackley says he will announce criminal charges, if warranted, at the appropriate time.
DCI has investigated the deaths of five prison inmates since February 2025. Manarion Fuse and Melibu Ross are scheduled to stand trial in January, 2026 for distribution of controlled substances that led to the deaths of two different inmates. The deaths of the other two inmates remain under investigation.
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