RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Pennington County State’s Attorney announced Friday murder charges have been dismissed against 21-year-old Duane Sierra in the 2023 shooting death of a woman in Rapid City.
26-year-old Serena Spider was shot to death on May 3, 2023, near the intersection of Lacrosse Street and E. Omaha Street.
The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Friday that following a recent ruling, granting the defense’s motion to suppress Duane Sierra’s confession to the police, the case has shifted. The State faced challenges with a key witness’s refusal to cooperate, which impacted the prosecution’s ability to proceed.
The State decided to dismiss the charges against Sierra because of these factors. Should new evidence emerge, the dismissal does not preclude refiling charges in the future.
Sierra was initially arrested for second-degree murder on the date of the shooting.
