Man who murdered American Indian Movement activist to remain in state custody

Canadian court had ruled John Graham had right to speak at extradition hearing for murder of Annie Mae Aquash

The Canadian Ministry of Justice has reapproved the extradition of John Graham, who was convicted in the 1975 kidnapping and murder of American Indian Movement activist Annie Mae Aquash in South Dakota, Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Thursday.

The decision means Graham will remain in state custody at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, where he is serving his sentence.

“Having personally prosecuted this case as both a United States Attorney and as South Dakota’s Attorney General, I understand the pain experienced by Annie Mae’s family,” Jackley said. “The decision to continue to hold John Graham responsible for Annie Mae’s murder is a significant victory for South Dakota’s tribal communities who have long dealt with missing and murdered indigenous persons.”