Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com. Fort Bragg soldier charged had alleged operation to remove A Fort Bragg soldiers alleged plot to "physically remove" racial minorities from eastern North Carolina was uncovered by military officials. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A soldier from New Port Richey died in a training exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, according to a Friday announcement. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Paratrooper found dead in Fort Bragg barracks: Army - New York Rubino's cause of death has not yet been revealed. eventAction: 'render' To date, there is not even a plausible theory of why anyone would have wanted to murder such a thoroughly nice guy, much less viciously decapitate him. But CIDs press release included a strange statement that seemed to backhandedly push the theory that Roman-Martinez had been decapitated by a boat-propellor strike. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Pfc. When we woke up he was not here, and weve been looking for him all day. The death certificates Private first class Mikel Rubino, who hailed from Oroville, California, was pronounced dead at the scene on Friday, August 13, by medical personnel. Two men connected to the special operations community were found dead on an Army post in North Carolina where both had served for years one a soldier in an elite unit and the other a veteran. 1st Class Michael B. Hamilton, 35, of Plano, Texas, was pronounced dead by emergency medical services after he was found unresponsive, officials said. The president's office told reporters, however, it "cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani's movement for security reasons". }); But the group of seven also told investigators that Roman-Martinez had left his wallet, phone, and glasses behind in the tent, which Griselda says is very unlikely. An investigative reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine, Seth Harp, has been But in no fewer than 33 cases, the Army has classified the cause of death as undetermined.. Mr. Christian Romero, a high school friend of Roman-Martinez who joined the Army around the same time and also had been stationed at Fort Bragg, says he cant understand why Becerra planned a camping trip at a time when the weather was so foul. Not long after that, a parachute rigger in the 7th Special Forces Group named Tiara Vinson allegedly walked up to Kelia Horton, her rival for the affections of a third soldier, and shot her in the face. Seven soldiers who went camping with a Fort Bragg paratrooper whose severed head later washed up on a beach are being court-martialed. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. An incident report on the sheriffs website lists it as a justifiable homicide, but in response to an email seeking further details, Swainn offered little more information and directed Stars and Stripes to a statement the sheriff issued the day after the shooting, which said no charges had been filed. 2023 Stars and Stripes. The incident is under investigation, officials said. Jimmy Lee Smith III was found unresponsive at about 10:36 p.m. and pronounced dead by emergency medical services at the scene on Hammock Lane in Raeford, according to the Hoke County Sheriffs Office. He earned numerous awards and decorations during his service, including a Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, a parachutist badge and a driver and mechanic badge. Rubino leaves behind his wife Alyssa, their daughter Legacy, and his mother, Sheila. FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- Fort Bragg officials have identified the soldier killed Thursday in a military vehicle accident on post. He was just a few months from getting out of the Army, and had plans to buy a new car, take a trip to Japan, and go to college on the GI Bill. CID has told me theyre quite confident its murder by one or more of the seven other soldiers, says Dustin Collier, an attorney representing the Roman-Martinez family pro bono. Griselda says that her brother, a sensitive young man who was into Buddhism and crystals, kept a daily journal. Mikel Rubino was pronounced dead after emergency medical services personnel were called to his barracks and attempted life-saving measures, military officials said in a statement to ABC station WTVD in Durham, North Carolina. His death came a day before President Joe Biden mobilized 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg to join U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan over the weekend to, according to the president, facilitate the "orderly and safe drawdown" of U.S. personnel and allied forces in the region overrun by Taliban fighters. By that time, Collier says. Soldier A 24-year-old Army cook assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg was found dead from a gunshot wound Wednesday in a town about 20 miles Mikel Rubino, 29, a 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper was found unresponsive, but emergency medical crews declared Rubino dead when they arrived in the barracks, according to a news release from Fort Bragg officials. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Her awards include a 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Washington Dateline Award and an Honorable Mention from the Military Reporters and Editors Association for her coverage of crime at Fort Hood. As per reports, Rubinos awards and decorations included the National Defense Service Medal, a decoration presented to recognize all military members who have served in active duty during a declared "national emergency"; the Army Service Ribbon, which is awarded to enlisted personnel after the successful completion of their initial-entry training and Officers after the completion of basic/orientation or higher level course; and the Army Parachutist Badge, which is awarded to soldiers who have previously earned the Basic Parachutist Badge and simultaneously complete one airborne jump into a combat zone. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Alex Becerra, who according to multiple sources planned and organized the camping trip to the North Carolina seashore that preceded Roman-Martinezs disappearance and death, has been charged with conspiracy; dereliction of duty; two counts of making false official statements; three counts of disobeying a superior officer; and wrongful possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance but not murder or manslaughter. The incident remains under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department. In one case, an elite Delta Force soldier suspected of trafficking drugs was found dead on an Army training ground, the victim of an apparently professional hit by skilled assassins. A Fort Bragg soldiers alleged plot to "physically remove" racial minorities from eastern North Carolina was uncovered by military officials. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. FORT BRAGG, N.C. . document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. Fort Bragg We lost our friend, he said. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Posted at 11:49 PM, Apr 27, 2023. and last updated 8:49 PM, Apr 27, 2023. A member of the National Guards 19th Special Forces Group, Leshikar was fatally shot in Fayetteville on March 21 of that year. The rest of his body has not been found. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Michael Zapata, a friend, said in a statement that Smith was the example of what a paratrooper should be and touched the lives of hundreds of other soldiers and paratroopers in the process.. Rubino was found unresponsive in his barracks room on Fort Bragg. Investigators said they believed that drug use was involved. } The loss of a Soldier is always tragic, said Lt. Col. Justin Duvall, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company. When Leshikar came into the home, he and Lavigne had a confrontation that ended with the shooting. On February 9, 2022, Seth reported the death of 83 soldiers at Fort Bragg in the 18 months ending in June 2021. Fort Bragg soldier wanted to remove racial minorities from The other person was a veteran who previously served at Fort Bragg, the Army wrote. Fort Bragg paratrooper who died was found unresponsive in barracks room, Army officials say, Fort Bragg soldier killed in accident, 4 others injured, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. ga('ads.send', { Fort Bragg soldier pronounced dead after being found in car Likewise, in January 2021, an Army captain named Robert Latham died from an apparent heart attack, despite being 32 years old and seemingly in excellent physical condition. To cap off a freakish year at Fort Bragg, just three weeks after Lavigne and Dumas turned up dead, a 31-year-old combat medic assigned to Special Forces named Mikel Rubino, 29, a 82nd Airborne Division Fort Bragg soldier found dead at Sanford home, officials say During his brief Army career, Rubino was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Army Parachutist Badge, military officials said. It was raining nonstop, he tells Rolling Stone. Bragg soldier dies at family home in Georgia - WRAL.com Lavigne was a graduate of the Army Airborne and jump master courses, and the Military Free Fall Parachutist and jump master courses, as well as the Special Forces Intelligence Course; survival, evasion, resistance and escape school; and a special operations language course in Tagalog, which is spoken in the Philippines. Chad is a Marine Corps veteran who covers the U.S. military in the Middle East, Afghanistan and sometimes elsewhere for Stars and Stripes. CID did not respond to a request for comment Friday, but an unnamed defense official told ABC News that foul play was suspected. But Roman-Martinezs death took place amid a surge in drug crime on Fort Bragg, with multiple murders with apparent links to the use or distribution of narcotics on-post. "We mourn Mikel's passing alongside his family. It has not been found. Lavigne had been investigated in the 2018 death Sgt. A 29-year old paratrooper was found dead in his barracks at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, military officials said. Fort Bragg soldier Friday night it rained heavily. eventAction: 'click_ads' SANFORD, N.C. Authorities on Wednesday said they are investigating the death of a Fort Bragg soldier who was found shot on Sunday in his Sanford home. Court documents and other evidence revealed that Anthony was attempting to enter Fort Tiara Nicole Vinson, 26, was charged with first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied property in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the killing of Spc. Soldiers Rick said Lavigne was also in Delta Force. There was no way he wanted to end his life. His previous assignments include Hohenfels, Germany; Fort Hood, Texas; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Lavigne told Rick that her brother had a screwdriver, she said, but she claimed nothing was found at the scene and no real investigation was ever held.. },false) }); "The loss of Mikel to his family, friends, and fellow Paratroopers is a tragedy," Col. Phillip J. Kiniery III, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat, 82nd Airborne Divisions, said in a statement. But some elements of the account of his disappearance given by the seven soldiers who last saw him alive dont add up. Her baby brother, whom she always took care of, could barely see without his pair of thick glasses, she says, and never would have left them behind voluntarily. As per reports, as the Taliban entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul, and an official in the Afghan Interior Ministry said President Ashraf Ghani left the city for Tajikistan. Anthony later admitted that he didnt have any paperwork for the gun. The seven soldiers who were on the camping trip claimed that Roman-Martinez simply walked away in the middle of the night, never to be seen again, and agents with the Armys Criminal Investigative Division, or CID, couldnt seem to get any more information out of them. "We mourn Mikel's passing alongside his family. Fort Bragg soldier found dead was decapitated Fort Bragg stops reporting soldier deaths after dozens found eventAction: 'click_adunit' Officials responded to the location because of unknown trouble, the sheriffs office said a brief statement. Military officials said the paramedics were called after Rubino was found unresponsive on Friday night. eventAction: 'view' Earlier in the day, park rangers had approached the group to ask them to move their vehicles, which were encroaching on protected sand dunes. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Rubino leaves behind his wife Alyssa, their daughter Legacy, and his mother, Sheila. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History A Rolling Stone magazine investigation published in April found that 44 Fort Bragg soldiers died on or near the base in 2020, including several killed in homicides and at least 21 who died from suicide. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ He was assigned to Fort Bragg for nearly all that time, a LinkedIn account showed. let gads_event; Spc. They are trying to deter this investigation from a homicidal one to an accidental one, she says, and in my opinion they look ridiculous and incompetent., In November 2021, CID announced that after exhausting hundreds of leads and thousands of hours of investigation, the file had been moved to cold case status.. More:Fort Bragg soldier killed in accident, 4 others injured. The U.S. Army has filed criminal charges related to the case of Enrique Roman-Martinez, a 21-year-old soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division whose beheading remains one of the most baffling of the many unsolved killings to have taken place at Fort Bragg lately. Fort Bragg Andrew W. Brown, 28, was a His death marks the latest in a string of recent deaths of Fort Bragg soldiers on or near the base. 83 soldiers died at Fort Bragg in the 18 months ending June 2021. Beginning in 2001, Dumas served as a property book officer with the 7th Special Forces Group, his LinkedIn account shows. Whoopi Goldberg interrupts 'The View' live segment, raises her voice and hits co-host, Demi Moore has not left Bruce Willis's side and is doing everything to make his 'last moments happy', 'Liza took a final breath and sighed': Liza Burke, 21, dies 6 weeks after stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Baywatch star Jeremy Jacksons ex-wife Loni Willison spotted looking for food in LA waste, Archie Blake: Boy, 11, mauled by shark while snorkeling just meters away from shore during family trip. Its unclear if he remained at the command throughout the remainder of his career. We are one of the worlds fastest growing if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Fort Bragg is one of the world's largest military complexes, housing about 57,000 active-duty personnel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. No arrests have been made nearly five months after a Special Forces soldier and veteran were found dead Dec. 2, at Fort Bragg, an official said last week. Anthony had a self-titled operation' found on his devices with a goal to physically remove as many of [black and brown people] from Hoke, Cumberland, Robeson and Scotland Counties by whatever means need be, according to the release. Leshikars sister, Nicole Rick, told Connecting Vets on Friday that Lavigne and her brother were close friends, but had gotten into an altercation that night. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); }); FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA: A 29-year old soldier was reportedly found dead in his barracks at Fort Bragg. Hewitt declined to provide further information about what unit Dumas had served with at the end of his career. Lavigne dedicated himself to the Army for 19 years and deployed multiple times in the defense of our Nation. FORT BRAGG A senior enlisted paratrooper was found dead Monday at his home on Fort Bragg, according to a statement Tuesday from the 82nd Airborne Updated: Apr 22, 2023 / 11:45 AM EDT. Officials said during the investigation they also found several electronic devices belonging to Anthony that allegedly had evidence of a self-titled operation, with the goal to physically remove as many of [black and brown people] from Hoke, Cumberland, Robeson and Scotland Counties by whatever means need be.. Editor's note: This story has been updated to show that Hamilton was found dead Monday. pg.acq.push(function() { "The loss of a soldier is always tragic," said Lt. Col. Justin Duvall, the soldier's company commander. William J. Lavigne II, 37, with U.S. Army Special Operations Command's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and Timothy Dumas, 44, an Army veteran from Pinehurst, N.C., were found Wednesday in a training area on Fort Bragg, near Fayetteville. A Fort Bragg soldier who allegedly sought to physically remove as many racial minorities from eastern North Carolina by whatever means need be pleaded Former US Army soldier with apparent plot to 'physically remove Rubino had reportedly joined the Army in 2020 and had moved to Fort Bragg in 2021. His next-of-kin are being notified,according to the statement. }) Pfc. He joined the 3rd Special Forces Groups support battalion in March 2020. Both soldiers served as field artillery firefinder radar operators and were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Private First Class Mikel Rubino, of Oroville, The detail might be a red herring. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? William J. Lavigne II, 37, was one of two men found dead Dec. 2, 2020, in a training area on Fort Bragg, N.C., the Army said in a statement. He was caught by military police carrying a 3d printed ghost gun onto military property. His death marks the latest in a string of recent deaths of Fort Bragg soldiers on or near the base. In June, two paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division were found dead in their barracks in what Army officials said they suspected were drug overdoses. Becerra was the one who spoke to a 911 dispatcher. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Reached by phone, Becerra declined to comment. Authorities on Wednesday said they are investigating the death of a Fort Bragg soldier who was found shot on Sunday in his Sanford home. Bragg Now the Army has quietly docketed a raft of charges against Becerra. Michael was a dedicated Paratrooper, passionate leader, and a loyal friend, Lt. Col. Todd Sunday, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, said in the statement. He arrived to Fort Bragg in 2021 and was originally assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery Brigade. Foul play is suspected and they may have been involved in criminal activity at the time of their deaths, unnamed military officials told some news outlets. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. All rights reserved. }); Patino, who is married to another woman, is being held without bond and is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Cumberland County later today. Pfc. Spc. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Megan Touma, a 23-year-old Fort Bragg soldier found dead in a motel bathtub in Fayetteville, N.C., more than a month ago. Rubino joined the Army in 2020 and arrived at Fort Bragg this year. from around the world. In total, a staggering 83 active-duty soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg died in the 18 months ending June 2021, according to data obtained by Rolling Stone. He deployed several times to Afghanistan and Iraq, the command said, though it did not provide an exact number. And there are few other clues in his killing, which was just one of a massive wave of fatalities at Fort Bragg over the past two years, including repeated instances of fratricidal soldier-on-soldier violence, and literally dozens of deaths for which there is no explanation at all. A representative of the Taliban said the group was checking on Ghani's whereabouts. Fort Bragg stops reporting soldier deaths after dozens found dead in their bunks. Police also said they are investigating the case as a homicide and have identified a person of interest. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. No arrests have been made nearly five months after a Special Forces soldier and veteran were found dead Dec. 2, at Fort Bragg, an official said last week. Smith deployed to Jordan in 2020 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, according to the command. The Army identified Master Sgt. Confederate Tributes Are Losing Their Patron Saint. Fort Bragg MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Spc. Related Stories Romero says that Roman-Martinez also took LSD, and that Becerra was allegedly known around the barracks as a small-time dealer of acid tabs. hitType: 'event', Fort Bragg stops reporting soldier deaths after dozens found dead in their bunks. Only 11 of these deaths were from natural causes. Many, perhaps a plurality, were suicides. Anthony will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to 10 years in prison, according to the release. Matthew Disney, 20, of Aberdeen, Maryland, were pronounced dead on the scene by emergency medical Griselda says that her brother was an enthusiastic proponent of hallucinogenic mushrooms, which he believed held the cure for mental illness. The two men may have been involved in criminal activity, a defense official familiar with the incident told The Washington Post, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter still under investigation. ga('ads.send', { Rose L. Thayer is based in Austin, Texas, and she has been covering the western region of the continental U.S. for Stars and Stripes since 2018. All rights reserved. Smith joined the Army in 2016 and had previously served in the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, and in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, according to a news release from Special Operations Command. The loss of Mikel to his family, friends, and fellow paratroopers is a tragedy, Col. Phillip J. Kiniery III, commander 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, said in the news release. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. I spoke to him that Wednesday and we talked about him leaving the Army, she tells Rolling Stone. Drugs may have been involved in the cases of Diamond and Disney, who were found dead on the same day in June 2021, just two weeks after an airborne master sergeant named Martin Acevedo III was charged with trafficking cocaine. }) Special Forces soldier, Army veteran found dead on Fort Bragg The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time