Fort Hood Army Cpl. Christopher Ferguson Died of Undetermined Causes; CID Claimed Death Was Accident; CBS News Reported Suicide (March 25, 2007)

Christopher Ferguson

Cpl. Christopher Martin Ferguson, U.S. Army

Fort Hood Army Cpl. Christopher Martin Ferguson, 21, died of undetermined causes on March 25, 2007 in Killeen, Texas. Christopher was born and raised in Pataskala, Ohio and enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2004 after graduating from high school. Cpl. Ferguson worked as a combat infantryman on behalf of the Bravo Company, 3-67 AR Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood in Texas. Cpl. Ferguson deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005; he conducted over 200 combat patrols and participated in over 30 joint operations with Iraqi counter-parts in Baghdad.

Christopher Ferguson was born on April 12, 1985, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Theophil Ferguson of Florida, and Patty Gibson Ferguson of Pataskala. He attended the Watkins Memorial School system, and graduated from the Criminal Justice program at Licking Co JVS, Class of 2004. He was fascinated by security systems and the military since a small child. He was described as a “peacekeeper.” He entered the U.S. Army in 2004, spent one year in Iraq, and was stationed at Ft. Hood at the time of his death. Cpl. Ferguson was survived by his mother and two sisters of Pataskala, Ohio when he passed.

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July 13, 2020:

“My brother is Corporal Christopher Martin Ferguson…he passed away March 25, 2007 at Scott and White Hospital in Texas…he was stationed at Fort Hood…he had just got back from Iraq and was at a party right off of base with fellow soldiers…story was that he fell from a three-story building on his head (alcohol involved or not, you don’t fall from a balcony to your head and not fracture one other bone, not have anything broken, only have your brain bleeding)…my mom, myself and my sister were flown out to see him and he was never awake…he was on life-support for seven days…everybody that came to the hospital was not allowed to talk to us…they told us that they had been told that they were not allowed to talk about anything that happened that night…we were left with no answers…my brother’s Sergeant brought us his blazer so we had something to drive while there and my sister and myself found a grocery bag in the back of his blazer that had the clothes he was wearing that night…the paramedics had cut them off him…it was just stuffed in the back of his blazer…there was a detectives card in there that was just placed in his shoe so I called and the detective let me know that the army had taken the investigation from Killeen PD…At the same time we found his camera and his blazer, there were fellow soldiers in the pictures with him that night who claimed that they were not there…my brothers death certificate says cause unknown [undetermined]…No one would tell us what happened and it was ruled as an accident years later…One of his fellow soldiers that does surfing for veterans put my brother on national news with his picture, his name along with saying that he committed suicide, but my family was never told that…there’s a lot more to the story…it’s very fishy and there was a lot of no talking or lies and I really want to know what happened to my brother.” -Christina McDonald (sister)

Christopher Ferguson Balcony

Christopher Ferguson with two Army soldiers. Picture taken on the balcony in question in 2007.

CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell:

About 20 veterans die by suicide each day. A hotline launched in 2007 has answered more than 3.5 million calls, sending help to thousands of people. Dean Reynolds got an inside look. -CBS News with Norah O’Donnell (August 26, 2019)

Christopher Ferguson CBS News

Screenshot of the soldiers Army veteran Danny O’Neel claimed died by suicide. (CBS News)

“This is the national news episode that a fellow soldier of my brothers did! He added my brother to posters and news saying he committed suicide! If this was the case, why weren’t we told this?! The Army took the investigation from Killeen Police Department. If there was a real investigation going on, why did my sister and I find my brothers belongings, clothes, and shoes from that night…there’s blood on them, they stuffed everything in a grocery bag, and had it in the back of his blazer…they treated it like it was trash…wouldn’t you think they would need that as part of their investigation? Cpl. Christopher M. Ferguson deserves justice..please help our family find out what exactly happened to him at Fort Hood.” -Christina McDonald (sister)

Additional Photos:

Related Links:
Obituary: Christopher Martin Ferguson
Suicide Prevention Call Center | CBS News with Norah O’Donnell (Facebook)
Inside a suicide prevention call center responding to thousands of veterans (YouTube)
Army Soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas Are Dying at Alarming Rates Stateside (January 1, 2016 to Present)

Air Force Reservist Karl Hoerig Murdered at Home; Suspect & Spouse Claudia Fled to Brazil to Avoid Extradition; 10 Years Later Back in US to Face Charges (March 12, 2007)

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Karl Hoerig, Air Force Reserve

48 Hours:

After “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty tracks down the accused killer of a decorated military pilot in Brazil, the woman is extradited to the United States . Will the pilot’s family get justice?

To get justice for his death, Karl Hoerig’s family in the United States must first navigate the Brazilian criminal justice system, which may keep his suspected murderer from facing extradition. -48 Hours

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio, 13th District) has appealed to three U.S. Presidents to try and help Major Karl Hoerig’s family get justice for the U.S. Air Force veteran’s murder. “48 Hours” Erin Moriarty talks to the congressman about his push to have Claudia Hoerig extradited to the United States to stand trial. -48 Hours

The family of a murdered military hero is embroiled in an international fight for justice. Karl Hoerig was killed in his Ohio home in March 2007. His family immediately suspected his wife, Claudia, but she boarded a flight to her native Brazil hours after her husband’s death. U.S. investigators charged Claudia with murder, but more than 10 years later, the Hoerig family is still seeking justice. Erin Moriarty, who traveled to Brazil to track down Claudia, joins “CBS This Morning” to preview her “48 Hours” report.

Related Links:
Justice for Karl Hoerig | Congressman Tim Ryan
Justice For Major Karl Hoerig | Representative John A. Boccieri
Brazil Uncooperative in Extradition of Suspected Murderer
Brazil Uncooperative in Extradition of Suspected Murderer
Woman accused of killing her husband, and a congressman is pursuing justice
State representative pushes for stronger response to Brazilian murder suspect
Family of murdered veteran battles to bring his wife to justice
US congressman: Ohio fugitive arrested in her native Brazil
Nine years later, local family hoping for justice after murder suspect arrested in Brazil
Trump must call for return of Claudia Hoerig
Newton Falls murder case gains national attention again on 48 Hours
Sneak peek: A Brother’s Mission | 48 Hours
“48 Hours” Preview: A Brother’s Mission
Congressman supports Ohio family’s 10-year quest for justice
“48 Hours” travels to Brazil with family seeking justice for military pilot
How does Brazilian punishment fit the crime?
Brazilian fugitive charged with murder of American husband
Brazilian fugitive charged with murder of American husband
48 Hours reporter explains what Claudia Hoerig’s been doing in Brazil
Wife of Murdered Newton Falls Pilot Karl Hoerig Arrested in Brazil, May Finally Face Extradition
‘Bingo! We got her back:’ Newton Falls thrilled to see Hoerig trial
Karl Hoerig case update: A family’s decade-long quest to get justice for murdered veteran
CBS News This Morning spotlights Karl Hoerig murder case
Timeline: Efforts to extradite Claudia Hoerig for husband’s murder
Fugitive jailed: A timeline in the fight to bring Claudia Hoerig to justice
Karl Hoerig’s Air Force friends praise effort to bring accused killer to U.S.
Woman indicted in ’07 slaying of husband returned to US
Woman accused of murdering Air Force husband fled to Brazil in 2007, extradited back to Ohio
Newton Falls woman accused of killing husband 10 years ago extradited from Brazil, arrested
Woman accused of killing Air Force veteran husband, fleeing to Brazil now in Ohio jail
Brazilian Woman Back in NEO, Charged With Husband’s Murder
Senator O’Brien Praises Extradition Of Claudia Hoerig
Bond set at $10 million for decade-old murder case
Bond set for woman who fled to Brazil after Air Force Reserve husband’s slaying
Hoerig pleads not guilty to murder, bond set at $10,000,000
Woman accused in 2007 Trumbull County murder of husband pleads not guilty, held on $10 million bond
48 Hours Premiered ‘A Brother’s Mission’ on CBS (2017)
The Wife from Hell | MilitaryCorruption.com

Two Unarmed Teens are Killed in Iraq, Army Sgt. Michael Barbera Charged with Murder, Charges Later Dropped by Military (2007)

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Sgt. Michael Barbera, US Army

Related Links:
Rules of Engagement
U.S. Soldier Accused Of Murder In Deaths Of Deaf Iraqi Boys
US soldier charged with murder over deaths of two Iraqi civilians
U.S. soldier charged with murder in killing of two Iraqi civilians
A Soldier Accused, But Few Answers In Death Of Iraqi Teens
U.S. soldier accused of gunning down unarmed teens in Iraq
US soldier accused of killing two teens in Iraq as military investigates
Army Considers Court-Martial Of Soldier In 2007 Iraq Killings
U.S. Army sergeant charged with murdering two unarmed, deaf Iraqi teenagers due to appear in a military court today
U.S. Army drops murder charges against soldier in slaying of Iraqi boys
Army drops murder charges against soldier, Staten Island native Michael Barbera, over Iraqi boys’ deaths
Murder charges dropped against sergeant who shot 2 unarmed Iraqi boys
Army drops charges against paratrooper over 2007 killing of Iraqi boys
Soldier won’t face charges in deaths of Iraqi boys
No prison time for Army Sgt. Barbera for phone threat against reporter’s wife
The Silent Soldier: A Code of Silence
How an award-winning investigative reporter tracked killings in Iraq