Anchor Anand Naidoo and Jennifer Norris, a retired Air Force Sergeant, discuss sexual assault in the U.S. military. -CCTV News
Category: In Their Name
Active Duty Marine Nathaniel Cosby Murdered Ivanice Harris in Hawaii; Sentenced to Life in Prison by Military Courts (May 17, 2013)
The dead body of tourist Ivanice ‘Ivy’ Harris was discovered at Yokohama Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawaii on May 20th, 2013. Ivy was living in Nevada but was originally a native of Portland, Oregon; she was four weeks pregnant. Ivy’s friends and family initiated a search after she disappeared on May 16th while celebrating her 29th birthday in Hawaii with her boyfriend, also her pimp. According to Ivy’s memorial, she died on May 17th. Ivy’s death was officially ruled a homicide by the medical examiner’s office; she died of a neck injury. Hawaii police conducted a thorough investigation that led to an active duty Marine on temporary duty assignment in Hawaii. Master Sgt. Nathaniel Cosby, 39, was an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron-171 in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing based out of Iwakumi, Japan. Cosby was arrested at the airport (destination unknown) and charged with Ivy Harris’ murder. After released by the Honolulu Police Department, Cosby was temporarily assigned to an aircraft unit in Kaneohe, Hawaii and according to a Marine spokesman, free to come and go as he pleased.
At some point it appears the civilian authorities deferred to the miitary because Cosby was court martialed by the Marines for the second degree murder of Ivy Harris. Cosby was an active duty Marine therefore he could be tried by the civilians, the military, or both. During the course of the legal proceedings, Cosby admitted to a confrontation with Ivy Harris over money in his hotel room after a night of drinking. He claimed Ivy demanded money then pulled out a knife after he attempted to get out of the room so he put her in a chokehold and killed her in self defense. He got rid of her body to avoid embarrassment to his family and to the Marine Corps. According to court testimony, he was unable to give a blow-by-blow description of the struggle, describing the scene as ‘chaos’. An 8-member military panel found Nathaniel Cosby guilty of second degree murder, obstructing justice, and attempting to patronize a prostitute. The panel recommended life in prison and a dishonorable discharge pending final approval by the convening authority, the Marine Forces Pacific commander. Cosby will serve his life sentence at the maximum-security military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
“After being released by HPD, he was temporarily assigned to an aircraft unit at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe, where a U.S. Marines spokesman said he will be free to come and go as he pleases like all other Marines.” –Hawaii News Now
The medical examiner confirms the Oregon woman whose body was found in west Oahu was murdered. Ivanice “Ivy” Harris was found dead four days after she went missing in Waikiki. -KITV4
Related Links:
Obituary: Ivanice Jo’Ruth “Ivy” Harris Greer
In Memory of Ivanice Harris
Friends and Family of missing Oregon woman ask the public for help
Naked body of Oregon woman found washed up on Hawaii beach
Police identify woman killed at Yokohama Bay
Body discovered near Yokohama Bay identified as missing tourist
Body Of Portland Woman Missing In Hawaii Found On Beach
Body of missing Portland woman found in Hawaii
Oregon woman found dead in Hawaii was pregnant
Jewelry tip led to arrest in Ivy Harris case
Hawaii police arrest man in Ivy Harris case
Man arrested at airport for death of Portland woman in Hawaii
Marine charged with murder of Portland woman in Hawaii
Marine master sergeant charged with killing Vegas escort in Hawaii
Ivanice Harris Murder: U.S. Marine charged in death of Las Vegas prostitute in Hawaii
Marine accused of killing prostitute from Oregon who was on vacation in Hawaii for her birthday
U.S. Marine released in Hawaii killing of Ivanice Harris
Trial date set in prostitute death
Marine faces Hawaii hearing in Oregon woman’s death
Marine accused of prostitute murder goes on trial
Marine accused of murdering Portland woman to face court-martial
Detective: Marine took prostitute to Waikiki hotel
Security video caught Marine with murder victim, but he claims he’s innocent
Marine accused of prostitute murder claims self-defense
Marine claims self-defense in murder of Ivy Harris
Marine accused of prostitute murder claims self-defense
Marine Guilty in Harris’ Death
Marine found guilty in Hawaii murder case of Portland woman
Marine found guilty of murdering Portland prostitute Ivanice ‘Ivy’ Harris in Hawaii
Military jury recommends life term for Iwakuni Marine in Hawaii murder
Military jury: Life in prison and dishonorable discharge for Master Sgt. Cosby
Life sentence upheld for U.S. Marine who killed prostitute
US Marine Corps Upholds Life Sentence for Murder of Ivy Harris
Appeals court upholds murder conviction of USMC master sergeant
Pimp of murdered prostitute may be involved in crime ring
FBI: Ten Portland-Area Pimps Charged with Transporting Young Women to Hawaii and Other States for Prostitution
Ivy Harris’ accused pimp arrested in Portland
Portland rapper Meezilini indicted in federal prostitution sweep
DOJ: Portland pimps indicted, including suspect in Ivy Harris case
Pimp of Portland woman killed in Hawaii sentenced to prison
Pimp of woman murdered in Hawaii sentenced to 3 years in prison
Army SSG John Russell Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Premeditated Murders of Five Fellow Soldiers at a Mental Health Clinic in Iraq (May 16, 2013)
On May 11, 2009, SSG John Russell gunned down five of his fellow comrades at a mental health clinic at Camp Liberty in Iraq with his M-16. It was revealed that he had an argument with someone at the clinic, left, and came back with his gun. His crimes were determined to be premeditated. He was arrested and subsequently charged with murder and aggravated assault of another soldier that was seriously injured. Days before the killings witnesses noticed that he was distant and having suicidal thoughts. He was also scheduled to leave Iraq in a few days. He was tried for the murders of his fellow comrades and found guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison. But his family feels that the Army should also take responsibility for their actions. The family believes that John was broken and not treated for the injuries he sustained in combat, in the line of duty. SSG Russell was being treated for symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress with medications but it is believed that the psychotropics the military psychiatrists prescribed to him may have played a role in his actions. He was described as a kind, caring man up until the day he committed the unforeseen murders against his fellow soldiers.
Honoring the Victims:
- Major Matthew Houseal, 54, U.S. Army
- Commander Keith Springle, 52, U.S. Navy
- Sergeant Christian Bueno-Galdos, 25, U.S. Army
- Specialist Jacob Barton, 20, U.S. Army
- Private First Class Michael Yates, 19, U.S. Army
Related Links:
DoD Identifies Navy Casualty
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
Army IDs Sgt. John M. Russell as the shooter who killed 5 fellow soldiers at Iraq base
U.S. soldier charged with murder in Iraq shooting deaths
Army Sgt. that killed 5 comrades in Iraq a Sherman native
Father: Army ‘Broke’ Soldier Held in Kilings
Did Doctors Deny Iraq Shooter’s Stress?
U.S. Soldier Charged in Baghdad Shooting Was Due to Leave Iraq Soon
Horror and stresses of Iraq duty led US sergeant to kill comrades
When PTSD Comes Marching Home
Military Mental Health Crisis Exposed With Camp Liberty Killings
Trial date set in case of officer’s murder
Wait for court-martial in fratricide case frustrates victim’s family
Army judge orders soldier who killed five in Iraq to be hypnotised
Army sergeant pleads guilty to 2009 killing of fellow soldiers
US soldier ‘coolly smoked a cigarette’ before shooting dead five of his comrades in Iraq, court hears
US soldier who shot five troops was ‘broken’ by counsellors
Judge: Soldier premeditated murder of 5 at Iraq combat stress clinic
U.S. soldier found guilty of 5 premeditated killings in Iraq
Sgt. John Russell: Wrenching testimony in penalty phase
Soldier who killed fellow U.S. troops in Iraq gets life sentence
US army sergeant jailed for life over Iraq killings
Psychiatry in the Military: The Hidden Enemy—Full Documentary
Violent Crime at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Army SSG John Russell Killed Five Fellow Soldiers at a Mental Health Clinic in Iraq; Found Guilty of Premeditated Murder, Sentenced to Life in Prison (May 11, 2009)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan Coalition to Reform the Military Justice System: Introduced the Military Justice Improvement Act (2013)
Washington D.C. – During a news conference today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with a bipartisan group of their colleagues in the Senate and House, announced new legislation that would reform the military justice system by removing the prosecution of all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement from the chain of command, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going Absent Without Leave.
Senators Collins and Gillibrand were joined by survivors of sexual assault in the military, including Jennifer Norris of Maine, and by representatives from organizations who assist victims of Military Sexual Trauma. The Military Justice Improvement Act would for the first time remove the decision whether to take a case to special or general court-martial completely out of the chain of command and give that discretion to experienced military prosecutors for all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going AWOL.
“To be sure, the vast, overwhelming majority of our military personnel are honorable, conscientious, and respectful individuals, not rapists or harassers. It is for their sake that the pattern of covering up, blaming the victim, and failing to provide even the most basic protections that has been all too common for far too long must end,” said Senator Collins. “What does it say about us as a people, as the nation, as the foremost military in the world when some of our service members have more to fear from their fellow soldiers than from the enemy? This epidemic of sexual abuse cannot stand. We must ensure that justice is swift and certain to the criminals who have perpetuated these crimes.”
With tears streaming down her face, Jennifer Norris, a former Technical Sergeant in the Air Force, describes her harrowing experience with sexual assault and the difficulty she had in seeking justice within the military chain of command, saying, “The system is rigged against the victims” and in favor of the “often higher-ranking perpetrators.” [VIDEO]
Norris, who did not serve in Hawaii, said she’d been reluctant to report the rape because, “in the Air Force, I witnessed first hand what happens to those who stepped forward to report their assaults. I did not want to be stigmatized for reporting my assault — as I tried to move forward with my career. Instead, the best option for me was to try and endure it, to suck it up and try and make it until I could get transferred somewhere else — only to have it happen over and over again, like a recurring nightmare.”
She never did get justice, she said, even when she did come forward. “My perpetrators were allowed to resign in lieu of Administrative Hearings, which would have become a matter of public record. My command never offered the chance to proceed with a court martial.”
She said, “If the chain of command had been removed from handling sexual assault cases before I was attacked I believe justice would have been served or perhaps it would have been prevented in the first place.”
-Jennifer Norris (Civil Beat, May 16, 2013)
Gillibrand: “I’m Distressed That The Victims’ Voices Aren’t Being Heard In This Debate
Related Links:
Sexual assault victim: “The system is rigged”
‘A Place to Begin’ by Jennifer Norris, USAF Retired [Video]
Air National Guard Recruiter Drugs and Rapes New Recruit (1996)
Sexual Assault and Abuse of Authority at Keesler Air Force Base (1997)
Non Combat Deaths of Female Service Members in the U.S. Military (Iraq)
House Armed Services Committee Initiatives Regarding Military Sexual Assault (2011)
Combat Military Rape, Jackie Speier Introduces Legislation and Campaign (2011)
Air Force TSgt. Jennifer Norris Testified Before the HASC in Washington DC (2013)
Defense Department Rescinds Direct Combat Exclusion Rule; Services to Expand Integration of Women into Previously Restricted Occupations and Units (January 24, 2013)
Pentagon battling military rape “epidemic” (2013) – CBS News
Now That Women Are Cleared For Combat, How About A Rape-Free Workplace? (2013)
Senator Collins Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort To Reform Military Justice System (2013)
Military sexual assault victim Jennifer Norris discusses new bill – Democrat & Chronicle
Bill would take sexual assault cases out of commanders’ hands – Democrat & Chronicle
Legislation Aims to Strengthen Prosecution of Sexual Assaults in Military
Senators Lead Push To Change Military’s Sexual Assault Policy – NPR
Senators Lead Push To Change Military’s Sexual Assault Policy – NPR
Bill attacks ‘epidemic’ of military sex assaults – Portland Press Herald
Hawaii Delegation Backs Reforms Against Military Sexual Assaults
Changes proposed as military struggles with sex assaults
Military cracks down on rampant sexual abuse – CBS News
Obama, lawmakers tackle military sexual assault – The State
Gillibrand Builds Bipartisan Support for Change of Military Justice Code (UPDATED)
US Military Officials Call Sex Abuse In Ranks Serious Problem
The Deep Cultural Roots of Military Sex Abuse – CT Mirror
Military sex assault victims get aspirin: Our view – USA Today Editorial Board
Sexual assault victims say military’s promises of reform don’t go far enough
S. 967: Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 – U.S. Senate Voting Record (March 6, 2014)
Senator Collins speaks in support of efforts to address military sexual assault (March 7, 2014)
Gillibrand turns empathy into political stock in trade (Poughkeepsie Journal)
The Modus Operandi of Social Justice Warriors (2016)
Vox: The War in Congress Over Rape in the Military, Explained (June 8, 2016)
Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006 | Congressional Research Service (2020)
“Veteran Advocates” Use Defamatory Newspaper Article & the Small Town Cops Who Created the Narrative to Bounce Medically Retired Service Members Out of the Advocacy Game (2024)
Military Injustice: Nowhere to Turn, Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide; The Story of Kamisha Block and How U.S. Army Leadership Contributed to Her Death
CBS News: Sexual assault victim, “The system is rigged” (2013)
With tears streaming down her face, Jennifer Norris, a former Technical Sergeant in the Air Force, describes her harrowing experience with sexual assault and the difficulty she had in seeking justice within the military chain of command, saying, “The system is rigged against the victims” and in favor of the “often higher-ranking perpetrators.” [VIDEO]
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) Cosponsored the Military Justice Improvement Act; Currently Serving as Senate Armed Services Committee Member (May 16, 2013)
Hawaii Delegation Backs Reforms Against Military Sexual Assaults (May 16, 2013) by Kery Murakami, Honolulu Civil Beat
New legislation would make it easier for victims of sexual assaults in the military to come forward.
“WASHINGTON, D.C. — A burgeoning scandal over sexual assaults in the military is fueling calls from congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support a bill that gives victims greater confidence that they’ll get justice. At an emotional press conference on Thursday where former service members spoke of being sexually assaulted while in the military, Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard joined a bipartisan group in both chambers in pushing for reform. The issue was a personal one for Gabbard, who served two tours of duty in the Middle East with the National Guard. Though she was not available for comment Thursday, she told CNN earlier this month that rape culture was prevalent during her first deployment to Iraq, to the point where soldiers were trained on protecting themselves from other soldiers.”
At [the] press conference, Jennifer Norris said she was raped while serving in the U.S. Air Force. “At first I was too afraid to report my assault to my chain of command, but two years later I was forced to report due to the escalation of the behavior and the fear that I would be raped again,” she said. Norris…said she’d been reluctant to report the rape because, “in the Air Force, I witnessed first hand what happens to those who stepped forward to report their assaults. I did not want to be stigmatized for reporting my assault — as I tried to move forward with my career. Instead, the best option for me was to try and endure it, to suck it up and try and make it until I could get transferred somewhere else — only to have it happen over and over again, like a recurring nightmare.” –Honolulu Civil Beat (May 16, 2013)
Read more from Honolulu Civil Beat here.
In the News:
U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono was joined today by victims of sexual assault in the military and organizations who assist victims of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) to announce new bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would reform the military justice system by removing the prosecution of all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement from the chain of command, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going Absent Without Leave. -Mazie Hirono (September 25, 2013)
Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined a diverse coalition, led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), to call for the creation of a fair military justice system to reverse the systemic obstacles that sexual assault victims face. The Military Justice Improvement Act would remove the military’s chain of command’s sole decision-making power over whether cases move forward to trial. -Mazie Hirono (November 6, 2013)
Hirono Speaks In Support Of The Military Justice Improvement Act. -Mazie Hirono (November 14, 2013)
With Vote Looming, Hirono Urges Support For Military Justice Improvement Act -Mazie Hirono (November 20, 2013)
Before Senate Vote, Hirono Urges Colleagues To Pass Military Justice Improvement Act -Mazie Hirono (March 6, 2014)
PBS NewsHour: Hirono Fights For Military Justice Improvement Act -Mazie Hirono (March 7, 2014)
Senator Hirono Calls to Address Military Sexual Assault -Mazie Hirono (May 24, 2016)
Senator Hirono Presses Marine Corps Commandant for Commitment to Address Military Sexual Assualt -Mazie Hirono (March 14, 2017)
Related Links:
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Senate Armed Services Committee
S.967 – Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013
S.1752 – Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013
Rape victims testify about assaults in Military (March 13, 2013)
Hawaii Delegation Backs Reforms Against Military Sexual Assaults (May 16, 2013)
Tough military sexual assault bill introduced (May 17, 2013)
Hirono visits 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks (April 8, 2013)
Hawaii delegation supports bill on military sexual assault (May 17, 2013)
Women in Congress Leading the Charge on Changing the Culture of Sexual Assault in the Military (May 18, 2013)
Women in the Senate Confront the Military on Sexual Assaults (June 3, 2013)
Senate set for battle over military sexual assault (June 12, 2013)
Diverse coalition behind Gillibrand sexual assault bill (July 16, 2013)
Military Sexual Assault Bill Would Reassign Authority (July 21, 2013)
Military Sexual Assault Bill Would Reassign Authority (July 21, 2013)
Hirono Joins Colleagues To Announce Bill To Stop Sexual Assault In The Military (September 25, 2013)
Hirono Calls For Fair Military Justice System For Survivors Of Sexual Assault (November 6, 2013)
Hirono Joins Bipartisan Group of Colleagues to Call for Fair Military Justice System for Sexual Assault Survivors (November 6, 2013)
Group of senators begin push to remove sex assault cases from chain of command (November 6, 2013)
McCaskill, Blunt seek to reform military sexual assault proceeding law (November 12, 2103)
Hirono Speaks In Support Of The Military Justice Improvement Act (November 14, 2013)
Rekha Basu: An epidemic of sexual assault in the military (November 19, 2013)
With Vote Looming, Hirono Urges Support For Military Justice Improvement Act (November 20, 2013)
Gillibrand, McCaskill Resume Military Sexual-Assault Debate (February 6, 2014)
Before Senate Vote, Hirono Urges Colleagues To Pass Military Justice Improvement Act (March 6, 2014)
PBS NewsHour: Hirono Fights For Military Justice Improvement Act (March 7, 2014)
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand And Claire McCaskill Begin To Take On College Sexual Assault (April 4, 2014)
U.S. Senators Serious About Sexual Assault (April 21, 2014)
Retaliation Against Victims of Military Sexual Assault Still Persists (December 4, 2014)
Senators demand transparency in US military justice system (December 8, 2015)
Pentagon data on child sex crimes in the military doesn’t show full picture (January 4, 2016)
Senator Hirono Calls to Address Military Sexual Assault (May 24, 2016)
Senator Hirono Presses Marine Corps Commandant for Commitment to Address Military Sexual Assualt (March 14, 2017)
Hirono, Gillibrand Re-Introduce Legislation to Address Crisis of Military Sexual Assault (November 16, 2017)
Military Justice Improvement Act Targets Sex Assaults (November 20, 2017)
Defense Department targets Air Force Academy’s use of mental diagnoses to oust cadets who report sexual assault (March 1, 2018)
Pentagon IG opens evaluation of Air Force Academy sexual assault prevention office (March 1, 2018)
Senators Hirono, Gillibrand Reintroduce Legislation to Bring Justice to Survivors of Sexual Assault in the Military (June 14, 2019)
Senate Armed Services Committee Members & House Armed Services Committee Members (June 21, 2019)
Hirono Calls For Fair Military Justice System For Survivors Of Sexual Assault
Hirono Joins Colleagues To Announce Bill To Stop Sexual Assault In The Military
Senator Hirono Calls to Address Military Sexual Assault
CBS News: Military cracks down on rampant sexual abuse
CBS News: Former Air Force Sgt. Jennifer Norris, a rape victim, said, “Blaming a civilian hook-up culture for the epidemic does nothing but contribute to victim blaming, excusing perpetrators, and it belittles the serious nature of these crimes.”
She said the system is rigged against low-ranking service members. “Commanders who are responsible for the resolution of these cases are far too often biased in favor of the often higher-ranking perpetrators,” she said.
Norris spoke at a press conference at which Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and other members of Congress pushed legislation that would allow victims to bypass their commanders.
As far as how to make that happen, the senator said, “Allow them to report directly to a military lawyer, a trained prosecutor, someone who understands sexual assault, and is the one who will do the investigation and then decide whether or not to bring it to trial.”
Read more at CBS News here.
Murder in Paradise Premiered ‘Hook, Lines & Murder’ on ID: Kirby Archer & Guillermo Zarabozo Charter the Joe Cool from Miami to Bimini, But Never Make It… (May 4, 2013)
ID Go: The crew of a luxury charter yacht falls prey to a fugitive’s cold-blooded escape plan en route to Bimini, a remote Bahamian paradise in the Bermuda Triangle. -Hook, Line & Murder, Murder in Paradise (S1,E4)
Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.
Related Links:
Fatal Voyage | Fatal Encounters | Investigation Discovery (S1,E4)
Fatal Voyage | Fatal Encounters | Investigation Discovery (website)
Fatal Voyage | Fatal Encounters | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Hook, Lines & Murder | Murder in Paradise | Investigation Discovery (S1,E4)
Hook, Lines & Murder | Murder in Paradise | Investigation Discovery (website)
Hook, Lines & Murder | Murder in Paradise | ID True Crime Files (Amazon)
Hijacked | Dark Waters: Murder in the Deep | Investigation Discovery (S2,E4)
Hijacked | Dark Waters: Murder in the Deep | Investigation Discovery (website)
Hijacked | Dark Waters: Murders in the Deep | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Kirby Archer Commits String of Crimes After Dishonorable Discharge from Army Including Four Murders in an Attempt to Flee to Cuba (September 22, 2007)
Fatal Encounters Premiered ‘Fatal Voyage’ on ID: Charter Boat Joe Cool Discovered by U.S. Coast Guard But No One Found On Board (April 9, 2012)
Dark Waters Premiered ‘Hijacked’ on Investigation Discovery: When the Joe Cool Didn’t Return Home, Friends & Family Knew Something Was Wrong (August 7, 2019)
Army Veteran Maribel Ramos Murdered by Roommate After Fight Over Unpaid Rent; Kwang Chol Joy Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison (May 2, 2013)
Date: May 2, 2013
Victim: Maribel Ramos, 33, Army veteran, college student
Offender: Kwang Chol “K.C.” Joy, 53, software engineer, unemployed
Location: Santa Ana, California
Circumstances: Maribel was close with her family, she was positive, caring, loving, supportive and encouraging, Maribel was a Sergeant in the Army, she was in supply and logistics, she wanted to be the female that set the example, she did approximately 160 missions overseas, Maribel had PTSD, one of her fellow comrades lost his life on a mission, she had survivor’s guilt, after 8 years, Maribel left the Army and moved in with her boyfriend, being around people bothered her but she was set on a career in law enforcement, Maribel & her boyfriend broke up, she didn’t feel he was supportive, he was heartbroken, she pursued a degree in criminal justice because she wanted to be a police officer, she took her studies seriously, one month into her studies, her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, Maribel stepped up to help her mom, 3 months after her diagnosis, Maribel’s mom died in hospice, Maribel was destroyed, it was a huge loss for the family, Maribel regrouped and bounced back, she continued her schooling so she could get her degree, she joined the student veterans association on campus at California State University Fullerton, she addressed her issues and became a veteran advocate, a student in her veterans group started stalking her, he was obsessed with her, she was not interested and he scared her, 3 years after her mom passed, Maribel grew tired of living alone and went on-line looking for a roommate, KC Joy moved in, they were very comfortable together and became great friends and roommates, Maribel was not interested in KC romantically, Maribel wanted to find love and started dating again, she went on Plenty of Fish, meanwhile Maribel’s roommate was a big hit with Maribel’s family, Maribel met Paul, after dating for a month, he started hanging out with the family, he made Maribel laugh but she had doubts about the relationship, he wasn’t that serious about making a commitment, Maribel went back on line looking for love, she met a new guy, a photographer, but Maribel’s ex-boyfriend Chris never gave up, Maribel and KC shared their apartment for 18 months when KC reported to her family that she was missing, he then called the authorities, no one had heard from Maribel, her phone was going straight to voicemail, police receive multiple phone calls from Maribel’s family and friends, she was missing, she didn’t just get up and go, the police went to her apartment to investigate, there were no signs of struggle, or a break in, but her cellphone, keys and ID were missing, KC appeared to be very worried about Maribel, the police asked KC to go back to the police department, he was cooperative, very concerned for Maribel, and he said she must have gone out on a date and didn’t return, that was his concern, the family began an active campaign to look for Maribel, the police started investigating the last people she was with, she was supposed to speak at an event and she missed it, now the police were concerned that she ran into some foul play, the first 48 hours are crucial in any investigation, they needed to act quickly but they found no trace of Maribel’s movements, there was no activity in Maribel’s life, they checked in with her ex-boyfriend Paul, he was on their radar immediately because he was the last person to speak with Maribel, he cooperated with the police and his alibi checked out, the family had an awareness walk looking for more information because they knew Maribel was in trouble, the police looked at video surveillance from the apartment complex, they saw Maribel paying her rent and then was never heard from again, someone from the student vets association called police to tell them about Raymond (the guy stalking her) but they learned he moved back to Japan and wasn’t in the US at the time of her disappearance, analysis of Maribel’s computer lead them to the photographer but he too had an alibi, they went back to roommate KC Joy, he came off as a very concerned friend, they noticed some scratches on his arms, he said he got them in a park after stumbling, the police didn’t believe him, they put him under 24 hour surveillance, they followed him to the public library where he used a public computer, detectives set up a sting across the street from the library, when he went on line, the police used special software to secretly monitor his computer activity, KC Joy was a suspect after this sting, they realized he killed her and dumped her body, he googled ‘how long does it take for a human body to decay,’ he observed Maribel’s facebook page and pulled up the location of where the awareness walk was, he then zoomed in on a remote canyon and the authorities believed KC showed them where the body was (Modjeska Canyon, California), police searched the area and within an hour reported that they found Maribel, she was buried under some small rocks, her body was badly decomposed, forensic testing confirmed it was Maribel, police were never able to determine the cause of death, but circumstantial evidence pointed to KC Joy, the detectives gave KC one last chance to come clean but they don’t let him know they found the body, he pointed to Maribel’s ex-boyfriends again and continued to deny knowing where Maribel was, he got up, walked out, and the police arrested him, but no one knows how KC killed Maribel, authorities theorized by August 2012, KC Joy had grown intense feelings for Maribel, he was obsessed, he even spent $12,000 on cosmetic surgery to make himself look younger, he was wildly jealous of Maribel’s boyfriends, by April 2013, his life was falling apart, KC Joy lost his job and told Maribel he couldn’t pay the rent, she told him if you can’t pay your rent, you have to move out, on the day Maribel disappeared, tensions were thick and they were arguing about the rent, KC Joy didn’t want to move out, Maribel wanted him to move out, she locked herself in her room and called Paul, that same night KC Joy sneaked in her room and killed her, he most likely suffocated her and then dumped her body in a remote location, if I can’t have her, no one can have her
Disposition: KC Joy was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison
Source: Control Alt Delete, Web of Lies
Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.
Investigation Discovery:
ID Go: In California, a woman disappears without a trace. Police suspect her roommate knows more than he claims, but without any hard evidence they become locked in a vicious game of cat and mouse. Aphrodite Jones uncovers a tale of fatal obsession and murder. -Virtual Drive-By, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (S5, E9)
ID Go: Maribel Ramos is a US army veteran with a complicated love life. When she arranges to meet an online date, she disappears, leaving family and friends desperate for news. Detectives are left to uncover a twisted tale of jealousy and rage. -Control Alt Delete, Web of Lies (S5, E6)
Podcasts:
On this week’s episode, a soldier goes missing but is it a kidnapping or murder? -Maribel Ramos, Queens of Crime
Related Links:
Maribel Ramos Missing
Friends and family hold vigil for missing Maribel Ramos
Maribel Ramos’ death declared homicide
Autopsy confirms body found is that of missing California veteran
Funeral held for slain army veteran Maribel Ramos
Roommate arrested for murder of Orange County student
Roommate Arrested In Mysterious Death Of OC Woman He Called ‘The Only Family I Had’
Arrest Made In Killing Of Southern California Army Veteran (Video)
Crimetracker: Suspect in murder of LA woman has ties to Knoxville
Ex-roommate suspected in death of missing Army veteran in Calif.
Accused killer posted on Yelp about victim’s disappearance
Roommate of Maribel Ramos remains jailed, scheduled for Tuesday court appearance
Man Accused Of Murdering Roommate Speaks Out From Jail
Maribel Ramos Murder Suspect Makes First Court Appearance
Roommate charged with murder raised suspicions online after writing posts about missing woman in the past tense before her body was found hidden in bushes
Maribel Ramos murder: Prosecutors shed light on case in suspect’s 1st court appearance
Maribel Ramos murder: Prosecutors shed light on case in suspect’s 1st court appearance
Prosecutors: New Evidence Against Suspect In Murder Of Roommate, An Iraq War Vet
Prosecutor: Suspect Researching Body Decomposition at Library Led Detectives to Body
Online search cracked missing woman case, prosecutors said
Accused Killer Was in Love With Slain Roommate: Prosecutors
Suspicious Behavior Doesn’t Mean Someone’s a Killer, Murder Suspect’s Lawyer Says
Kwang Chol “K.C.” Joy Dumped Maribel Manriquez Ramos’ Body, Agree DA and Defense
Man found guilty of murdering Army veteran, burying her body in canyon
Orange County man convicted of killing roommate
SoCal Army Vet’s Roommate Convicted of Her Murder
Southern California man convicted of killing ex-roommate Army veteran Maribel Ramos
Roommate Found Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder in Death of Maribel Ramos
Man convicted of killing Army veteran roommate faces 15-year sentence
KC Joy gets 15 years to life in prison for Maribel Ramos murder
OC man gets 15 to life for killing Iraq War vet
SoCal Man Gets 15 Years to Life in Murder of Army Vet Roommate
Maribel Ramos’ Killer Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison, Says He Cared for Victim ‘More Than Anyone’
Did a Murderer Just Give Himself Away on Yelp?
True Crime with Aphrodite Jones: Did Unrequited Love Lead to Maribel Ramos’ Disappearance | Crime Feed
Maribel Ramos was murdered by roommate K.C. Joy – Web of Lies
Web of Lies Premiered ‘Control Alt Delete’ on Investigation Discovery: Kwang Chol Joy Serving Life Sentence for the Murder of Army Veteran Maribel Ramos (April 24, 2018)
Control Alt Delete | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (S5, E6)
Virtual Drive-By | True Crime with Aphrodite Jones | Investigation Discovery (S5, E9)
Queens of Crime podcast 041: Maribel Ramos
In Lovely Memory of Maribel Ramos
Evidence Reveals Army Reserve Recruiter Adam Arndt Murdered High School Student & Recruit Michelle Miller, Then Killed Self; Army Claims Double Suicide (April 8, 2013)
The story of 17 year old Michelle Miller was featured on Forbidden: Dying for Love on Investigation Discovery. U.S. Army Reserve recruiter Adam Arndt, 31, enlisted the Rockville, Maryland high school senior in the Army Reserve Future Soldier’s Program. Michelle enlisted in part to help pay her tuition for Arizona State University. Unfortunately, in what appeared to be a downward spiral triggered by an ongoing military investigation, he took her with him. Because both Adam and Michelle were in the military, Army investigators concluded the investigation. In the end, they would add insult to injury and imply this was a ‘couple’ that wanted to die together in a double suicide despite background, testimony, and physical evidence to the contrary. Michelle’s father believes the Army changed the facts to fit their agenda.
According to her father Kevin Miller, Michelle left her Rockville, Maryland home at around 9:15 p.m. on April 8, 2013 after receiving a text message from someone in her reservist platoon about Staff Sgt. Adam Arndt. Michelle rushed out of her house believing that Arndt was suicidal and told her family she had to help a friend. Her father asked her to send the exact address, but he only received one vague message from her. He called the police and they arrived shortly before 9 a.m. the next day. When they were unable to make contact with anyone inside the house, they forced their way in and found Michelle Miller and Adam Arndt dead in the bathroom tub from what appeared initially to be a murder-suicide. Kevin Miller knows his daughter did not want to commit suicide because she simply had too much going for her.
Investigation Discovery:
ID Go: When high school senior Michelle Miller joins the Future Soldiers program, she sees it as the first step to realizing her dream of enlisting in the Army. But a forbidden affair with her recruiter risks her career in the Army, and her future itself. -The Sergeant & the Schoolgirl, Forbidden: Dying for Love (S2, E1)
Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.
Related Links:
Michelle’s Law on Facebook
Michelle Miller, Adam Anthony Arndt found dead in Germantown
Police: Army recruiter shoots teenage recruit, then self
Adam Arndt Suicide: Why Did Sergeant Shoot Teen Army Recruit Michelle Miller?
Army Staff Sergeant Allegedly Killed A 17-Year-Old Honor Student He Recruited
Military Murder-Suicide: Adam Arndt Shot High School Senior Michelle Miller Before Killing Himself
Vigil Held For Md. Teen Shot By Army Recruiter In Murder-Suicide
Teen’s Dad Says She Was ‘Smitten’ With Army Sergeant Who Police Say Killed Her
Father of slain Maryland Army Reserves teen speaks, says daughter had crush on recruiter who killed her
Recruiter who killed recruit married one
Maryland Army recruiter in grisly teen murder-suicide was married to another one-time recruit
Army Recruiter Murder-Suicide: Sgt. Adam Arndt Kills Teen Girl Soldier-to-Be
Adam Arndt, Army Recruiter Who Shot And Killed Teen Michelle Miller In Murder-Suicide, Reportedly Had Relationship With Her
‘Smitten’ Army reservist, 17, shot dead by recruiter when she rushed to his aid after he threatened to kill himself
New Details Emerge About Army Recruiter Suspected of Killing Teen
Details Emerge in Apparent Germantown Murder-Suicide
Army recruiter who killed student, self had wed a former recruit last year
A murder-suicide and the dark side of military recruiting
Michelle Miller’s death ruled inconclusive
ME: Rockville teen’s death undetermined
Cause of Death of 17-Year-Old in Army Recruiter’s Home Ruled Inconclusive
Students Honor Former Senior Michelle Miller One Year After Her Death
Michelle Miller, Adam Arndt: Army Sergeant Deadly Love Affair With Murdered Teen Recruit Subject of ‘Forbidden Dying for Love’
The Sergeant and the Schoolgirl | Forbidden: Dying for Love | Investigation Discovery (S2,E1)
The Sergeant and the Schoolgirl | Forbidden: Dying for Love | Investigation Discovery (website)
The Sergeant and the Schoolgirl | Forbidden: Dying for Love | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL 