Justice In Action

In our Voices of the Justice System series we are taking listeners behind the scenes of our local justice system through conversations with the people who make it work every day.

From law enforcement officers and dispatchers to prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, court reporters, forensic professionals, victim advocates, diversion specialists and more, each episode explores a different role within the justice system — what they do, the challenges they face, and how their work connects with others along the way.

Through candid conversations, we hope to give our community a better understanding of a system that can often seem complicated from the outside and introduce you to the people working within it.

Voices of the Justice System is a special series of the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office podcast, Justice in Action.

Back-to-school season usually means new teachers, new schedules, sports, activities,
and, for parents, probably a whole lot of paperwork.
But it also brings questions about rules, safety and what happens when a student's
behavior goes beyond breaking a school rule and potentially becomes a legal issue.
Today on Justice in Action, we are talking about what parents and students should know
about juvenile law at school. When is something handled by a teacher or principal?
When does law enforcement become involved? What are some of the situations SROs
and school administrators are seeing? And with school safety top of mind for so many
families, what is happening behind the scenes to keep students safe?

In this episode of Justice in Action, we sit down with prosecutors at three very different stages of their careers to talk honestly about what law school prepares attorneys for and what it absolutely does not. From handling traumatic cases and delivering difficult news to managing public scrutiny, emotional burnout, and overwhelming caseloads, this candid conversation explores the realities of prosecution that can only be learned through experience.

State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel, Assistant Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Olivia Siglin, and new Deputy State’s Attorney Karli Viher share personal stories, lessons learned, and the moments that shaped them both professionally and personally. Together, they discuss the emotional weight of public service, the misconceptions surrounding prosecutors, and why, despite the challenges, this work continues to matter.

Whether you are interested in law, public service, or the human side of the justice system, this episode offers an inside look at the realities behind the courtroom doors.

In this episode of Justice in Action, we take an in-depth look at State v. James Jumping Eagle, a case that left a lasting impact on the Rapid City community and, most importantly, on the family and loved ones of 82-year-old Reta McGovern.

On February 21, 2021, Reta was murdered in her home, setting off an investigation that would ultimately lead to a life sentence plus 50 years. In this episode, we walk through the case from start to finish, examining the investigative work, the evidence, and the prosecution’s approach to seeking justice.

This is more than a case summary. It is a look at how the justice system responds in the face of violence, the collaboration required across agencies, and the responsibility to pursue accountability on behalf of victims.

February marks annual report season for the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. In this collaborative episode, your hosts, State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel and Public Information Officer Katy Urban are joined by Sheriff Brian Mueller and Police Chief Don Hedrick to break down the major public safety trends of 2025. From crime data and drug trends to mental health commitments and diversion success rates, this conversation unpacks what the numbers really mean and what residents should understand about safety in our community.

In the final episode, we examine the prosecution,  a process that stretched nearly a decade and tested everyone involved. From death penalty decisions and plea negotiations to delayed trials, appeals, and final sentencing, this episode lays out the legal journey that followed. We also reflect on the role of victim advocacy, the impact on Jessica’s family, and what justice, imperfect and hard-won, ultimately looked like in this case.

Part Two focuses on the homicide investigation. Detectives walk us through the frantic search, the crucial break that changed everything, and the discovery of Jessica’s body nearly one year later. You’ll hear directly from law enforcement about the evidence, the interviews, and how a complex, emotionally heavy investigation ultimately identified five individuals responsible for Jessica’s murder and burial.

In Part One, we meet Jessica Rehfeld through the eyes of those who loved her most, especially her father, Michael. We learn who Jessica was, what mattered to her, and the circumstances that led up to her disappearance in 2015. This episode honors Jessica’s life, her strength, and the warning signs she recognized as she tried to escape an abusive relationship before she suddenly went silent.

Retail theft was climbing fast in Rapid City — until law enforcement, prosecutors, and local businesses teamed up. Katy and Lara talk with RCPD’s Mark Eisenbraun and retailer Doug Smith about what changed, what’s working, and what shoppers should know this holiday season.

In this powerful episode, Katy and Lara sit down with Trooper Louis Plunkett of the South Dakota Highway Patrol and Starla Pressley who lost her brother to an impaired driver. Together, they explore why South Dakota has one of the highest DUI rates in the nation, what troopers are seeing on the roads during the holidays, and what every driver needs to know to keep their community safe. Starla’s story brings heart and urgency to a crisis that affects far too many families.