Wild Rice: Man Charged With Rape, Attempted Murder
WILD RICE, ND (northwestmnnow.com) – A South Dakota man now faces three felony charges following an alleged attack near the Wild Rice River.
Tracy Vaughn Peters, 60, of Rapid City, is charged with gross sexual imposition, attempted murder, and aggravated assault.
The charges follow the discovery of a critically injured 28-year-old woman south of Fargo on October 13, 2026.
Court documents allege Peters sexually assaulted the woman and attacked her with a knife in a rural area.
New Charges Filed in Cass County Court
Prosecutors filed the formal charges in Cass County District Court this week.
The gross sexual imposition charge is a Class AA felony with a reported mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years.
Attempted murder is listed as a Class A felony.
The aggravated assault charge is a Class C felony carrying a reported mandatory minimum of two years.
The charges represent allegations that must be proven in court.
Woman Found With Life-Threatening Injuries
Deputies responded near 112th Avenue South and County Road 81 on Tuesday, October 13.
The woman was discovered suffering from severe injuries, including cuts to her neck.
Authorities said a hunter’s game camera captured images of the injured woman walking near the Wild Rice River.
Two people later located her and provided assistance before emergency crews arrived.
The woman was taken to a Fargo hospital, where she underwent surgery.
Court Documents Describe Alleged Attack
According to the probable cause statement, the woman knew Peters before the reported incident.
She told investigators she had previously stayed with him at a garage behind a Fargo travel center.
However, she said they were not involved in a romantic relationship.
The woman reported asking Peters for a ride before he allegedly drove her to a rural field.
She accused Peters of sexually assaulting her and cutting her with a knife.
According to investigators, she escaped by hiding in bushes and entering the river.
She was later discovered and received emergency medical treatment.
Investigators Track Down Suspect
Investigators reviewed phone records, vehicle registration information, and surveillance evidence while searching for Peters.
Authorities arrested him without incident at a south Fargo apartment complex on October 14.
According to court documents, Peters acknowledged being with the woman but denied assaulting her.
He was taken into custody as investigators continued collecting evidence.
Previous Conviction and Court Proceedings
Federal court records show Peters was convicted in 2017 of assault causing substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner.
That case involved a separate incident in South Dakota in 2016.
He received six months in custody followed by two years of supervised release.
Peters has since been arraigned on the new Cass County charges.
Court records indicate he remains in custody and is representing himself.
Readers can review applicable laws through the North Dakota Legislative Branch.
Additional case information is available through the North Dakota Court System.
Peters is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m David Keller reporting for Northwest MN Now News.
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