Probe of Rape at Governor’s Mansion in S.D.

A special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate a report of a rape at the governor’s mansion at a time when apparently only Gov. George S. Mickelson’s 17-year-old son was in residence.

Mickelson said the investigation is causing agony for his family.

The special prosecutor, Craig Kennedy, said Wednesday he expects the Pierre Police Department to complete its investigation into the rape report within the next few days.

Kennedy and other officials refused to discuss details of the allegations.

Police received a report on Nov. 30 alleging there had been a forcible rape at the mansion two days earlier. A statement on a police log sheet said: “Four boys at mansion raped her.”

The Republican governor was in Washington at a U.S. Department of Agriculture conference on Nov. 28. His wife, Linda, was in Texas at the time.

The Mickelsons’ son, David, a senior at Riggs High School, is the only other family member who is a permanent resident of the mansion. Two older children do not live in Pierre.

Asked whether David was traveling with either parent on Nov. 28, Mickelson press secretary Gretchen Lord Anderson replied, “We don’t feel that where David was is relevant.”