On his 26th birthday, August 2, 2016, a Native American man named Todd Lewis Little Bull was killed in Kyle, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. His death came shortly after he had taken to social media to accuse a local spiritual leader, Jerome LeBeau, of conducting fraudulent ceremonies. Little Bull, who was deeply involved in his community's spiritual practices, alleged that he had been asked to participate in creating artificial effects, such as shaking gourds and turning on
small lights, during sacred rituals. In the days leading up to his death, he had shared these claims online, stating his disillusionment with a spiritual mentor he had once revered. These public accusations reportedly led to threats against his life, which he also documented on social media.
The circumstances surrounding his death were complex and tragic, reflecting internal disputes over spiritual practices within the community. An extensive investigation into the murder of the 25-year-old man eventually led to the arrests of two men from Kyle. Stetson Eagle Elk and Gary Little Bull Jr. were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Todd Little Bull’s death.
Court documents later revealed a startling plot. It was alleged that Eagle Elk, Gary Little Bull Jr., and Todd Lewis Little Bull himself had concocted a plan to stage Todd's death as part of a supposed spiritual act. Their intention was to have the death attributed to another spiritual leader. In January 2022, a federal grand jury indicted both Eagle Elk and Gary Little Bull. Subsequently, Stetson Eagle Elk pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and aiding and abetting. In August 2022, he was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in the death of Todd Little Bull.
