VPD
1971 Cold Case from VPD Perspective
The disappearance of Pamela “Pam” Jackson and Cheryl “Sherri” Miller in 1971 which confused Vermillion police for 50 years until 2013 when the girls’ bodies were found in their car. KARE 11 reporter, Lou Raguse, wrote the book, “Vanished in Vermillion,” in response to Pam’s brother-in-law asking for one crime news article for them to […]
Basketball Player Arrested for Second Degree Rape
Updated as of 12/09/2022 at 4:10 p.m. This morning, sophomore men’s basketball player Mihai Carcoana was arrested for second degree rape. Carcoana is being held in the Clay County Jail according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. In South Dakota, second degree rape is a Class 1 felony and is defined by South Dakota legislature […]
Sexual assault reported at the dorms
An email was sent this morning at 11:23 to the USD community stating that a sexual assault incident occurred on campus in a residence hall on the north side of campus. The incident was reported early in the morning to the Title IX office. The email also stated the assault was perpetrated by an acquaintance. […]
Vermillion mother arrested for murder in the first degree of one-year-old son
A 26-year-old mother was arrested on Monday for murder charges after the death of her son. The Vermillion Police Department responded to a report of a child not breathing at a Vermilion home on Monday afternoon. Officers discovered the boy was deceased upon arrival. Maria Milda, the mother of the deceased child, was arrested shortly […]
Police Blotter Highlights 4/05-4/11
Apr. 5 Officers responded to a non-injury accident. One driver was cited for rear-ending the other car. Apr. 6 Officers responded to a noise complaint and found a juvenile in the area. The juvenile had been drinking and was taken home. Charges pending. Apr. 6 Officers responded to a report of a disorderly male. After […]
Vermillion Police adapt to coronavirus
With social distancing being recommended, some crimes in the Vermillion area have increased while others have decreased. Matt Betzen, chief of the Vermillion Police Department (VPD), said he began to notice the trend of certain crimes going down and its impact on the type of calls being received. “Unfortunately we have seen an increase in the […]
“If it happens once, it’s a problem”: Vermillion’s undercover date rape drug problem
Waking up in her bed, not knowing how she got there, Katherine Meirose made her way to her bathroom. There, she quickly discovered she had a black eye and no memory of how it happened. Meirose said her first thought was, “I didn’t drink that much and didn’t have a hangover. How do I not […]