Jeremiah Peacemaker Alleges Malicious Prosecution in Federal Lawsuit Following Acquittal

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Jeremiah Peacemaker, a South Dakota resident who spent three and a half years in custody before being acquitted of murder, has filed a comprehensive federal civil rights lawsuit against dozens of law enforcement officials and municipal entities.

The 65-page complaint, filed January 8, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy of malicious prosecution, evidence fabrication, and constitutional violations stemming from the 2020 death of Kendra Owen.

Defendants and Allegations

The lawsuit names an extensive list of defendants, including the current Watertown Police Chief, Timothy Toomey, the former Chief, Lee McPeek, and numerous detectives and officers from the Watertown Police Department (WPD). Also named are several agents from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), forensic scientists from the South Dakota Forensic Lab, and high-ranking state officials, including Attorney General Marty Jackley and former Attorney Generals Jason Ravnsborg and Mark Vargo.

Peacemaker’s legal team argues that law enforcement acted with a “hunch” rather than probable cause when they arrested him just 12 hours after Owen’s body was discovered. The complaint asserts that at the time of the arrest, no forensic evidence had been tested, no eyewitnesses had been identified, and the time of death was unknown.

Factual Background of the Case

According to the court documents, the investigation was allegedly flawed from the outset:

·        Investigative Tunnel Vision: The complaint alleges that Former Detective Chad Stahl targeted Peacemaker as the prime suspect based on a “bizarre” report Peacemaker had made about being assaulted six days before the murder.

·        Fabricated Evidence Claims: The lawsuit claims WPD detectives “concocted a scheme” to enter Peacemaker’s apartment by pretending to investigate his previous assault report to trick him into providing evidence.

·        Suppression of Evidence: Attorneys for Peacemaker allege that law enforcement ignored evidence in the backyard of the crime scene and failed to investigate the fact that two other bodies had been found in the same house within five years.

·        Misleading Forensic Testing: The complaint targets the South Dakota Forensic Lab, alleging they used “carefully crafted” and “intentionally misleading” language regarding blood testing methods known for producing false results.

Trial and Acquittal

The document details a “grueling” eight-day trial where Peacemaker was forced to wear “stun cuffs” and was allegedly paraded before the jury in shackles and jail stripes in violation of a court order. The lawsuit claims that the public and the victim’s family were misled into believing the case was “open and shut” due to quick arrests and press releases.

Following his acquittal and release after 42 months in jail, Peacemaker reports being “completely traumatized,” left with no home or money, and living in constant fear for his safety.

Legal Claims

The lawsuit seeks damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, citing violations of the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The counts include:

·        Malicious Prosecution: Arresting and prosecuting Peacemaker without probable cause.

·        Evidence Fabrication: Alleging that officers created false reports and suppressed exculpatory evidence to secure a conviction.

·        Failure to Intervene: Claims that supervisors and other officers allowed the constitutional violations to continue despite knowing the case was flawed.

The City of Watertown and Codington County are also named as defendants, with the complaint alleging that their policies and customs contributed to the acquisition of invalid evidence.

The defendants have been served summonses and generally have 21 days to respond to the complaint.