What the DoD Doesn’t Want You to Know: 50 Shocking Military Homicides in the Last 30 Years (March 23, 2018)

homicide-cases

  1. Fort Carson Army Spc. Tracy Spencer Sentenced to Life in Prison for Double Rape & Murder of Army Veteran Micki Filmore & Colorado Springs Nurse Barbara Kramer (1986)
  2. Army Soldier Ronald Gray Sentenced to Death by Military Courts for Rape & Murder of Army Pvt. Laura Vickery-Clay & Civilian Kimberly Ruggles (1986)
  3. Army Pvt Rosa Martinez Murdered at Fort Dix by National Guardsman Jose Aponte After She Resisted His Sexual Advances (1987)
  4. Army Soldier Dwight Loving Robbed & Murdered Cab Driver; Sentenced to Death by Military But Commuted by President Obama, Sentenced to Life (1988)
  5. Army Soldier Erin Tynan Raped & Strangled by Fellow Fort Irwin Soldier Christopher Geier, Geier Guilty of Murder, Murder-For-Hire & Attempted Murder (1990)
  6. Air Force Sgt. Joseph Snodgrass Hired Hitmen to Kill Wife in Philippines for $400,000 Life Insurance Payout; Sentenced to Life in Prison (1991)
  7. Army Spouse Melinda Stewart, Army Sgt. Daniel Stewart, Jill Yousaf & Army Soldier James Catlin Conspired & Murdered Homeless Teen Maggie Fetty (1991)
  8. Phonthip Ott Discovered Dead in California River; Coast Guard Spouse Dennis Ott Convicted of Murder & Sentenced to Life in Prison (1992)
  9. Fort Carson Army Soldier Michael Pelkey Convicted by Military Court Martial of Murdering Wife Diane; Sentenced to Life in Prison (1993)
  10. Sgt. Bill Coffin Murdered Ex-Fiancee After Civilian Courts Issued Protective Order, Judge Alleges Army Routinely Ignores Court Orders (1997)
  11. Navy Petty Officer James Kuenn Convicted of the Cold Case Murder of Carol Hutto in Florida; Sentenced to Life, Possibility of Parole After 25 Years (2000)
  12. Air Force Capt. Frank ‘Marty’ Theer Murdered by Wife Michelle & Army SSG John Diamond in North Carolina; Both Sentenced to Life in Prison (2000)
  13. Fort Bliss Army Commander Capt. Lynn Reister Murdered by Enlisted Husband Roger & His Brother Rodney for Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance (2001)
  14. Air Force SSgt Shelby Orelup Murdered by an Airman She Dated Briefly, SSgt Phillip Arindain Sentenced to Life in Prison (2003)
  15. Army Soldiers Jeremy Meyers & Christopher Baber Found Guilty of Murdering Jeremy’s Wife Jessica for the Life Insurance Policy (2003)
  16. Air Force Airman Andy Schliepsiek & Wife Jamie Stabbed to Death at Robins Air Force Base, Andrew Witt Found Guilty of First Degree Murder (2004)
  17. Marine Corps Reservist Rosendo Rodriguez III Murdered Summer Baldwin and Unborn Child; Sentenced to Death in Texas for Two Capital Murders (2005)
  18. Navy Seabee Rebecca Braswell Conspired with Fellow Navy Seabees to Kill Ex-Husband & Navy Veteran John Marmo, Sentenced to Life in Prison (2006)
  19. Army Sgt 1st Class Donald Gower Conspired & Offered to Pay Others to Murder his Estranged Wife Hidi Gower for the Life Insurance (2007)
  20. Marine LCpl Maria Lauterbach & Unborn Child were Murdered; Fellow Marine Cesar Laurean Found Guilty of Murder, Sentenced to Life in Prison (2007)
  21. Fort Bragg Army Soldier Edgar Patino Murdered Army Specialist Megan Touma & Unborn Son After Argument, Sentenced to 16-20 Years in Prison (2008)
  22. Fort Bragg Army Nurse Lt Holley Wimunc Murdered by Marine Husband the Day After She Announced Divorce, John Wimunc Sentenced to Life in Prison (2008)
  23. Army Sgt. Christina Smith Murdered by Army Husband Richard Smith & Accomplice Matthew Kvapil, Both Fort Bragg Soldiers Sentenced to Life in Prison (2008)
  24. Marine Sgt. Jan Pietrzak & Spouse Quiana Murdered by Four Active Duty Marines (2008)
  25. Disabled Teen Judilianna Lawrence Lured on MySpace by Army Soldier; Robert Marko Sentenced to Life in Prison for Rape & Murder (2008)
  26. Army Soldier Ashley Barnes Stabbed to Death by Estranged Husband; Fort Campbell Army Soldier Khaleefa Lambert Sentenced to Life in Prison (2009)
  27. Navy Petty Officer Amanda Snell Murdered by Marine Jorge Torrez in Barracks at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia (2009)
  28. Navy Master Chief John Bench Murdered Son & Attempted to Murder Wife & Daughter in Japan, Then Killed Self in Motorcycle Crash (2009)
  29. Army Major Nidal Hasan Sentenced to Death by Military Court for Opening Fire & Killing 12 Unarmed Soldiers & 1 DoD Employee at Fort Hood, Texas (2009)
  30. Pregnant Samira Watkins Found Dead in Bayou Grande in Florida; Navy Sailor Zachary Littleton Convicted of 1st Degree Murder, Sentenced to Life (2009)
  31. Army SSG Anton Phillips Found Stabbed to Death at FOB Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan; CID Offering $25,000 Reward for Information (2009)
  32. Air Force Reservist Travis McGraw Murdered his Wife Vanessa for the $100,000 Life Insurance Policy; Sentenced to Life, No Parole (2011)
  33. Army Soldier Sgt. Brandy Fonteneaux Found Murdered in Fort Carson Barracks; Sgt. Vincinte Jackson Sentenced to Life, No Parole (2012)
  34. Air Force A1C James Thomas Sentenced to 32 Years for Murder of SrA Clinton Reeves (2012)
  35. Marine Corps Spouse Brittany Killgore Held Captive, Tortured, Raped, and Murdered After Refusing Sex; 3 BDSM Cult Members Sentenced to Life (2012)
  36. Robert Chiaravalotti, US Army, Sentenced to Life Without Parole by Military Judge After Killing Wife & Raping Step Daughter (2012)
  37. Army Soldier Kimberly Walker Murdered in Colorado Hotel Room by her Boyfriend Army Soldier Montrell Mayo After Valentine’s Day Quarrel (2013)
  38. Baby Found Dead on Side of Highway; Air Force SrA Matthew Theurer Plead Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter, Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison (2013)
  39. Marine Nathaniel Cosby Convicted of the Second Degree Murder of Ivanice Harris in Hawaii; Sentenced to Life in Prison by Military Courts (2013)
  40. Army Spouse Dana Mackay Found Murdered in Virginia Home; SSG John Mackay, Nicole Houchin, Nace Houchin, & Greg Crawford Confessed to Crime (2013)
  41. Army Soldier Jeremiah Hill Convicted in Fatal Stabbing of Fellow Soldier Tevin Geike in 2013, Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison
  42. Navy PO 2nd Class Dmitry Chepusov Found Strangled to Death in Germany; Air Force SSgt Sean Oliver Found Guilty, Sentenced to Life (2013)
  43. Nathaniel Ulroan, US Army, Gets Life in Death of Son (2014)
  44. Camp Pendleton Marine Christopher Lee Convicted of Pre-Meditated Murder of Pregnant Lover Erin Corwin; Sentenced to Life in Prison (2014)
  45. Danielle Nemetz was Shot and Killed; Army Soldier and Spouse Skylar Nemetz Convicted of Manslaughter and Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison (2014)
  46. Marine Joseph Pemberton Found Guilty by Philippines Court for Murder of Filipina Sex Worker Jennifer Laude; Sentenced to 6-12 Years (2014)
  47. Fort Meade Army Soldier Caleb Barnes Stabbed Cheryl Silvonek to Death; Plead Guilty to First Degree Murder, Sentenced to Life in Prison (2015)
  48. Army Soldier Joseph Kimsey & Jonathon Nelson Found Guilty of Murdering Ashley Melnyczok; Both Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole (2015)
  49. Air Force SSgt Steven Williams Pleaded No Contest to the Second Degree Murder of his USAF Veteran Ex-Wife Tricia Todd in Florida (2016)
  50. Fort Carson Army Soldier Branden Harms Pleaded Guilty to Child Abuse Resulting in Death; Faced 40-48 Years in Prison at Sentencing (2016)

Violent Crime, Non Combat Death and Suicide at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (US Army)

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(Photo courtesy of http://www.reuters.com)

*Research not complete and includes combat deaths

Fort Bragg equips, trains, rapidly deploys, and sustains full spectrum forces supporting Combatant Commanders from a Community of Excellence where Soldiers, Families and Civilians thrive.

2017:

Roshain Brooks, US Army: Died while engaged in combat operations, Iraq
Huey Dyer, US Army Dependent: Homicide, Army soldier Matt Dyer’s dog
Christopher Harris, US Army: Vehicle-borne IED detonated, Afghanistan
Jarren Heng, US Army: Sentenced to 12 months probation for role in killing Huey
Jonathon Hunter, US Army: Vehicle-borne IED detonated, Afghanistan
Weston Lee, US Army: Died from Injuries while Conducting Security, Iraq
Marinna Rollins, US Army Veteran: Killed estranged husband’s dog Huey, suicide
Allen Stigler, Jr., US Army: Died while engaged in combat operations, Iraq

2016:

Iris Armstrong, US Army: Homicide victim, murdered by spouse
David Penix, US Army: Homicide Victim
Grant Shanaman, US Army: Found Dead in Off Post Home
Johnathan Simpson, US Army: Accused of raping fellow soldier
Ryan Walker, US Army: Charged with homicide of fellow soldier
David Winchester, US Army: Found Dead in Barracks

2015:

Javore Blackwell, Civilian: Charged with homicide of Fort Bragg soldier
Joseph Carreiro, US Army: Found dead in barracks, COD unknown
Jeanie Ditty, US Army: Accused of murdering child with boyfriend
James Groth, US Army: Died during training at Fort Bragg
Anthony Pantano, US Army: Accused of causing woman’s death, found dead
Nicholas Roberts, US Army: Killed in military training accident at Fort Bragg
Pablo Ruiz, US Army: Non Combat Related Incident, Afghanistan
Joshua Wheeler, US Army: Died from enemy small-arms fire, Iraq
Robert Williams, Civilian: Charged with homicide of Fort Bragg soldier

2014:

Brian Arsenault, US Army: Died from enemy small-arms fire, Afghanistan
Adacia Bruton, US Army: Charged with homicide of Fort Bragg soldier
Michael Cathcart, US Army: Died from enemy small arms fire, Afghanistan
Michael Donahue, US Army: Died of Wounds Suffered from Enemy Attack
Girard Gass Jr., US Army (2014): Non Combat Related Incident, Afghanistan
James Groth, US Army: Died during training at Fort Bragg
Samuel Hairston, US Army: Died while engaging the enemy, Afghanistan
Matthew Leggett, US Army: Died while engaging the enemy, Afghanistan
Cory Muzzy, US Army: Injured in life-fire training accident at Fort Bragg
Joseph Riley, US Army: Died After Enemy Attacked Vehicle with IED, Afghanistan
Darrell Robinson, US Army: Cause of Death Unknown
Omar Velez-Pagan, US Army: Sentenced to 30 years for homicide
Jonathan Walker, US Army: Non Combat Related Incident, Qatar

2013:

Allen Thomas, US Army Veteran: Homicide-Suicide
Sean Wells, US Army: Homicide victim, case unsolved, cold case
Darron Wright, US Army: Killed in parachute malfunction accident

2012:

Christopher Blackett, US Army: Plead guilty to homicide, imprisoned, suicide
Kelli Bordeaux, US Army: Homicide victim by convicted sex offender
Sebastian Gamez, US Army: Charged with homicide, final outcome unknown
Joshua Eisenhauer, US Army: Attempted homicide
Nicholas Holbert, Civilian: Homicide of army soldier, sentenced to life
Giocondo Navek, Civilian: Reportedly killed girlfriend, colleague, & self
Wade Page, US Army Veteran: Murdered six people then killed self
Jeffrey Sinclair, US Army: Improper Relationships, Demoted & Fined

2011:

Seth Andrews, US Army: Murder-Suicide
Kenneth Clark, US Army: Acquitted of murdering Fort Bragg soldier
Brandon Mims, US Army: Acquitted of shooting death of Fayetteville man
Breon Smith, US Army: Homicide victim

2010:

Nicholas Bailey, US Army: Negligent homicide, Iraq
Mathew Golsteyn, US Army: Army reopens investigation into war crimes
Morganne McBeth, US Army: Non combat death, homicide

2009:

Tara Smith, US Army: Non combat related incident, Afghanistan
Jacob Swanson, US Army: Murder-suicide

2008:

Kyle Alden, US Marine Corps: Accessory in cover-up of homicide
Matthew Kvapil, US Army: Homicide of co-worker, sentenced to life
Edgar Patino, US Army: Homicide of soldier, sentenced to 16-20 years
Matthew Rhoads, US Army: Cause of death unknown
Christina Smith, US Army: Spousal homicide victim
Richard Smith, US Army: Spousal homicide, sentenced to life
Megan Touma, US Army: Pregnant, homicide victim
Holley Wimunc, US Army: Domestic violence, homicide victim
John Wimunc, US Marine Corps: Spousal homicide, sentenced to life

2007:

Alan Austin, US Army: Non-combat related accident, Afghanistan
Michael Barbera, US Army: Accused of war crimes, Army dropped charges
Sandy Britt, US Army: IED detonated near unit during combat ops, Iraq
Jesse Clowers, US Army: IED detonated near vehicle, Afghanistan
Joan Duran, US Army: Non-combat related incident, Iraq
Michael Fielder, US Army: Non-combat related incident, Iraq
Erick Foster, US Army: Insurgents attacked unit during combat ops, Iraq
Jordan Goode, US Army: Wounds suffered from IED, Afghanistan
David Heringes, US Army: IED detonated near unit during combat ops, Iraq
Jeffrey Kettle, US Army: IED detonated near vehicle, Afghanistan
Charles Kitowski, US Army: IED detonated near vehicle, Afghanistan
Joshua Morley, US Army: Insurgents attacked unit during combat ops, Iraq
Tracy Willis, US Army: Insurgents attacked unit during combat ops, Iraq
Donovan Witham, US Army: IED detonated near vehicle, Iraq

2005:

Leroy Alexander, US Army: Vehicle struck by IED, Afghanistan
Jeremy Chandler, US Army: Died conducting training operations, Afghanistan
Charles Robinson, US Army: Vehicle struck by IED, Afghanistan
Jeffrey Toczylowski, US Army: Injuries sustained during combat operations
James Valentine, US Army Spouse: Murder-Suicide
Ronna Valentine, US Army: Victim of homicide

2003:

Andrew Baddick, US Army: Died in rescue attempt of another soldier, Iraq
James Lambert III, US Army: Struck by stray bullet during celebratory event, Iraq
Duane Longstreth, US Army: Non combat related injuries, Iraq

2002:

Sherman Cooley, US Army: Arrested for homicide of fellow soldier
Andrea Floyd, US Army Retired: Homicide Victim
Brandon Floyd, US Army: Homicide-Suicide
Cedric Griffin, US Army: Charged with first degree murder
Jacob Jarrell, US Army: Homicide victim
Jonathan Meadows, US Army: Attempted homicide
Rigoberto Nieves, US Army: Murder-suicide
David Shannon, US Army: Homicide Victim
Joan Shannon, US Army Spouse: Homicide
William Wright, US Army: Charged with murder, killed self awaiting trial

2000:

John Diamond, US Army: Homicide of USAF Officer
Frank Theer, US Air Force: Homicide Victim
Michelle Theer, US Air Force Spouse: Homicide of USAF Husband

1999:

Forest Nelson, US Army: Homicide

1995:

James Burmeister, US Army: Homicide of 2 People
William Kreutzer, US Army: Sentenced to life in prison for homicide
Randy Meadows, US Army: 3 years probation for role in homicides of 2 people
Malcolm Wright, US Army: Homicide of 2 People

1993:

Lisa Bryant, US Army: Homicide victim
Erwin Graves, US Army: Homicide of fellow soldier

1987:

Kimberly Ruggles, Civilian: Rape & Homicide Victim

1986:

Ronald Gray, US Army: Rape & Homicide; Death Sentence
Laura Vickery-Clay, US Army: Rape & Homicide Victim

1985:

Cara Eastburn, US Air Force Dependent: Homicide Victim
Erin Eastburn, US Air Force Dependent: Homicide Victim
Kathryn Eastburn, US Air Force Spouse: Homicide Victim
Timothy Hennis, US Army: Rape & Homicide; Death Sentence

1980:

Lawrence Hill, US Army: Died in parachute accident
Alvin Williams, US Army: Acquitted of death of military officer

1970:

Jeffrey MacDonald, US Army: Convicted of Homicide, Appealing

Related Links:
A War at Home
The Fort Bragg Murders
Fort Bragg’s Deadly Summer
4 Wives Slain In 6 Weeks At Fort Bragg
Rash of Wife Killings Stuns Ft. Bragg
Rash of Wife Killings at Ft. Bragg Leaves the Base Wondering Why
Army Instituting Broad Inquiry at Fort Bragg After 4 Killings
Army’s Malaria Drug Linked To Three Fort Bragg Wife Killings
Base Crimes. The military has a domestic violence problem.
A History of Shootings at Military Installations in the U.S.
Sikh shooting latest violent link to Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg, Page’s Army base had white supremacists
Fort Bragg soldier killed in skydiving accident
82nd Airborne paratrooper killed at Fort Bragg, the latest in a series of military training deaths
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2007)

Civilian Kimberly Ruggles Raped & Murdered by Fort Bragg Soldier; Ronald Gray Sentenced to Death by Military Courts for Two Murders & One Attempted Murder (1987)

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Kimberly Ruggles, Civilian

On January 6, 1987, Army soldier Ronald Gray raped, sodomized, robbed, and murdered civilian Kimberly Ann Ruggles, 23, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Kimberly, who was a taxi driver, was dispatched to pick up Ronald Gray at his residence. In the early morning hours of January 7th, Fort Bragg military police officers discovered Ruggles’ empty cab parked at the edge of the woods on post. They discovered Kimberly’s nude body a short distance away. She had been raped, sodomized, beaten, and stabbed seven times. Kimberly’s mouth was gagged with a cloth belt that matched pants found in Gray’s possession only hours earlier. Ronald Gray’s fingerprints were also on the interior door handle of Ruggles’ taxi and Ruggles’ fingerprints were found on money in Gray’s possession. In addition, Gray’s footprints were found at the scene of the crime. In 1988, Ronald Gray was found guilty by the military courts of the premeditated murders of Kimberly and Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, and the attempted premeditated murder of Private Mary Ann Lang Nameth. On April 12, 1988, Ronald Gray was sentenced to death, given a dishonorable discharge, total forfeitures, and a reduction to Private E-1. In 2008, President George Bush gave the final approval for the military execution of Ronald Gray. In December 2016, media reports indicated that the military is moving forward with the lethal injection execution of Ronald Gray.

Related Links:
Witness Links Victim, Gray to Drugs
Georgia soldier convicted of two murders
Soldier Gets Death Sentence for Raping, Killing 2 Women
United States, Appellee v. Ronald A. GRAY, U.S. Army, Appellant (1999)
Ronald Gray vs United States of America (2000)
Bush: Former Army cook’s crimes warrant execution
Bush OKs Execution for Army Private on Death Row
Hearing set for former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of rapes and murders
Soldier’s Denied Appeal May Pave Way for Death Sentence
Twenty-eight years later, Winter Garden man sees his daughter’s killer
Ft. Bragg Killer To Be Executed
Military to execute murderer and rapist Ronald Gray, a former soldier, after 8-year delay
US military to execute first inmate in over 50 years
Ronald Gray, US Army, Sentenced to Death by Military Court for the Rape & Murder of Army Private Laura Vickery-Clay & Civilian Kimberly Ruggles (1986)
U.S. Military May Perform First Execution In Over 50 Years (YouTube)
Execution Date to Be Set for Former U.S. Army Soldier (YouTube)


According to CNN, the US military could soon execute someone for the first time since 1961. Ronald Gray, a former Army soldier, has been on military death row at Fort Leavenworth since 1988 when he was convicted of killing five women and raping several others in 1986 and 1987 while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. A civilian court gave him eight life sentences, but a military court sentenced him to death. Last week, a judge ruled Gray’s stay in prison was no longer in effect and denied any further stays. Following the ruling, an execution date for Gray could be announced as soon as next month. –Wochit News

Army Pvt Laura Vickery-Clay Raped & Murdered by Fort Bragg Soldier; Ronald Gray Sentenced to Death by Military Courts for Two Murders & One Attempted Murder (1986)

US Army Seal

Pvt. Laura Vickery-Clay, US Army

On December 15, 1986, Army soldier Ronald Gray abducted, raped, sodomized, and murdered Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, 18, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. According to reports, witnesses saw Laura at a local store with Ronald Gray the night she disappeared and Gray’s finger print evidence was found on the hood of Laura’s vehicle. About a month later on January 17, 1987, a soldier discovered Laura’s half-naked, decomposed body in the woods on Fort Bragg. She had been raped, sodomized, and shot in the neck, forehead, chest, and back of the head. She had also suffered blunt force trauma to various parts of her body. The murder weapon was found in close proximity to the victim’s body. In 1988, Ronald Gray was found guilty by the military courts of the premeditated murders of civilian Kimberly Ann Ruggles and Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, and the attempted premeditated murder of Private Mary Ann Lang Nameth. On April 12, 1988, Ronald Gray was sentenced to death, given a dishonorable discharge, total forfeitures, and a reduction to Private E-1. In 2008, President George Bush gave the final approval for the military execution of Ronald Gray. In December 2016, media reports indicated that the military is moving forward with the lethal injection execution of Ronald Gray.

Related Links:
Soldier Gets Death Sentence for Raping, Killing 2 Women
United States, Appellee v. Ronald A. GRAY, U.S. Army, Appellant (1999)
Bush: Former Army cook’s crimes warrant execution
Bush OKs Execution for Army Private on Death Row
Hearing set for former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of rapes and murders
Soldier’s Denied Appeal May Pave Way for Death Sentence
Twenty-eight years later, Winter Garden man sees his daughter’s killer
Ft. Bragg Killer To Be Executed
Military to execute murderer and rapist Ronald Gray, a former soldier, after 8-year delay
US military to execute first inmate in over 50 years
Ronald Gray, US Army, Sentenced to Death by Military Court for the Rape & Murder of Army Private Laura Vickery-Clay & Civilian Kimberly Ruggles (1986)
U.S. Military May Perform First Execution In Over 50 Years (YouTube)
Execution Date to Be Set for Former U.S. Army Soldier (YouTube)


According to CNN, the US military could soon execute someone for the first time since 1961. Ronald Gray, a former Army soldier, has been on military death row at Fort Leavenworth since 1988 when he was convicted of killing five women and raping several others in 1986 and 1987 while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. A civilian court gave him eight life sentences, but a military court sentenced him to death. Last week, a judge ruled Gray’s stay in prison was no longer in effect and denied any further stays. Following the ruling, an execution date for Gray could be announced as soon as next month. –Wochit News