The Dakota Scout

The Dakota Scout

Share this post

The Dakota Scout
The Dakota Scout
31 years later, daughter wants answers about mother's murder
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

31 years later, daughter wants answers about mother's murder

Panel discussion highlights MMIW cases in South Dakota

Elisa Sand's avatar
Elisa Sand
Jun 23, 2024
∙ Paid
4

Share this post

The Dakota Scout
The Dakota Scout
31 years later, daughter wants answers about mother's murder
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
3
Share
Tonya Hertel is still looking for answers about her mother's death 31 years ago. Monica Bercier Wickre went missing from Aberdeen in April 1993. Her body was found in the James River two months later. Her unsolved case was the topic of discussion at a United We Stand presentation about Missing Murdered and Indigenous People on June 13 at the library. Aberdeen Insider photo by Elisa Sand.
Tonya Hertel is still looking for answers about her mother’s death 31 years ago. Monica Bercier Wickre went missing from Aberdeen in April 1993. Her body was found in the James River two months later. Her unsolved case was the topic of discussion at a United We Stand presentation about Missing Murdered and Indigenous People on June 13 at the library. (Elisa Sand/Aberdeen Insider)

Even if she someday has the answers to all her questions related to her mom’s death, Tonya Hertel said the pain and the loss of losing her mother will remain.

“I don’t truly think my heart will ever be healed because that was my mom,” she said. “I can say that time does help you figure out how to navigate life.”

Hertel was part of a panel discussion that included representatives from the Aberdeen Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit that was part of a United We Stand: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons event June 13 at the K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library.

The discussion and exhibit represented just a fraction of the cases involving missing and murdered Native Americans across the country.

Hertel’s mom, Monica Bercier Wickre, disappeared from Aberdeen in April 1993.

NEWS: Black Hills elderly care worker gets suspended prison time for embezzlement

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Dakota Scout to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
A guest post by
Elisa Sand
I have been reporting in South Dakota since 1999 and Aberdeen since 2013. I am currently associate editor for The Aberdeen Insider covering local news for Aberdeen.
© 2025 The Dakota Scout
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More