Newly Pinned Chief Petty Officer Found Dead

Jacksonville police suspect foul play after U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer found dead
CBS Action News
Updated: Sep 17, 2018

Loved ones are grieving the death of U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrea Washington as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office works to figure out how and why she died.

Washington was found dead in a north Jacksonville home on Monday. Police say they got a call for a medical emergency, but they suspect foul play.

A friend says that Washington was a mother of three and a 19-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. She had just been pinned as a Chief Petty Officer last week.
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Dateline NBC investigates murder of Fort Campbell soldier

Evil Was Waiting: Dateline NBC investigates murder of Fort Campbell soldier
Clarksville Now
By Nicole June
September 12, 2018

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A report coming later this week from Dateline NBC highlights the 2012 slaying of Fort Campbell soldier Sgt. Vincent Goslyn, Jr.

Clarksville NowInvestigator Ed Stokes talks to Dateline NBC's Andrea Canning in Evil Was Waiting, a new report on the 2012 murder of Fort Campbell soldier Vincent Goslyn, Jr. (Photo courtesy of Dateline NBC)

Goslyn was gunned down on the side of the road in Christian County, Ky. in Feb. 2012, not long after returning home from a deployment to Afghanistan.

At the time of the incident his wife, Jessie Goslyn, called 911 and reported that her husband had been shot when he got out of the car to help a stranded motorist on the side of the road. She told operators she drove away from the scene as her husband supposedly instructed her to.

It was later uncovered that Jessie Goslyn and her boyfriend, Jarred Tabor Long, had plotted Vincent’s murder and used the 911 call as a cover-up.
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Toast to slain Vietnam veteran John Roth

Friends drink final toast to slain Vietnam veteran
ABC 10 News
Anthony Pura
Aug 16, 2018

Roth’s wife came home and found him dead Tuesday. Police say he suffered trauma to his upper body. His wife told police the garage door was open.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) - Dozens of people packed a room at Surfside Tap Room Thursday night for a well-known patron believed to have been killed in his home.

John Roth, 77, was a regular at the bar. More than 50 people came to celebrate his life and drink a final toast.

“He served in Vietnam, he was a topographer,” one of his friends, Tom Andrews said. “He crawled through rice paddies to make sure the maps had the right elevations.”

“We had some intense conversations, but we would always end up laughing,” he added.
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Deployed Fort Stewart Soldier told wife was murdered on base

UPDATE 7/31/2018

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Authorities are offering up to $20,000 in reward money for tips that help solve the slaying of a woman at a military base in Georgia.

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Wife of deployed soldier found dead on Army post, suspect at large
WSAV
Darius Johnson
Updated: Jul 12, 2018

FORT STEWART, Ga. (WSAV) -- A statewide manhunt underway after the wife of a deployed soldier was found dead inside her home on Fort Stewart in Georgia.

Fort Stewart Public Affairs officials say the woman, whose identity has not yet been released, was found dead inside her home on base Tuesday night.

This comes after military police were called that morning by one of her relatives to check on her. Her husband is currently deployed.

"It's hard to believe. And it makes you worry if there is going to be more incidents,” says long-time Hinesville resident Jodee Adams. “Is this an isolated situation. Were their children in the home. It's very concerning the fact that they don't know who it was and its at-large now. "

Many on the base of Fort Stewart were surprised to hear Special Agents with the U.S. Criminal Investigation Command were investigating a homicide on base.read more here

Boise Police Chief Bill Bones addressing need for PTSD help

A week after stabbings, his city gives Boise's police chief hope 'to create good out of horror'
Idaho Statesman
Katy Moeller
July 7, 2018

"One can imagine what it would be like for paramedics, firefighters and others to see the horrific injuries of these victims — these small young children," Murphy said in a phone interview from Seattle. "It may be more than a human being is meant to bear."

Boise Police Chief Bill Bones was visibly emotional during a press conference Sunday, July 1. "These are victims who in their past homes have fled violence from Syria, Iraq and Ethiopia," Bones said.
Meiying Wu

The emotional calluses of a 25-year career in law enforcement appeared to have been ripped away when Boise Police Chief Bill Bones stepped in front of the cameras at City Hall West on July 1.

The towering, soft-spoken chief choked back tears as he described the horror of the night before — an "evil" attack that left the largest number of victims in an incident in department history.

Nine people were stabbed, including six children, who were at or near a 3-year-old's birthday party at the Wylie Street Station Apartments just off State Street. All of the victims were members of refugee families from Syria, Iraq and Ethiopia.

"Obviously, I have cried during this event," Bones said a couple of days later in an interview at his office. "Thankfully, I was alone yesterday when I found out that we had lost our little girl — because she really is, in a part, she is a daughter of the entire community. She's a part of who we are."

"I have a department of people that got into this job, into this career, because they're here to take care of others, to help others. We try hard to get them to take care of themselves," he said. "None of us do the best job at that."read more here

Man stands accused of road rage murder of Cody Harter

Police make arrest in 'road rage' killing of Air Force veteran
ABC News
By M.L. NESTEL and JULIA JACOBO
May 10, 2018

Cody Harter, 24, was stabbed to death following a possible road-rage incident on a Missouri highway.

Missouri police have made an arrest in the killing of a 24-year-old Air Force veteran and Missouri Air National Guard reservist who was stabbed in an apparent road rage incident.

Detectives had been working around the clock to solve the death of Cody Harter, Sgt. Chris Depue, a spokesman for the Lee's Summit Police Department, told ABC News over the weekend.

The suspect, 58-year-old Nicholas Webb, has been charged with second-degree murder, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Jackson County. On Saturday, two hours after Harter was attacked, Webb was arrested in Liberty, Missouri on charges of possession of dangerous drugs and driving under the influence, the complaint states.

On Wednesday, a detective from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office obtained body camera footage from the arrest, which revealed that Webb had been driving a gray four-door Mitsubishi Lancer, according to the complaint. The arrest report stated that Webb was in possession of a knife in his right pants pocket, the complaint states.
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70 Year Old Vietnam Veteran Tortured and Murdered

VIETNAM WAR VETERAN TORTURED, MURDERED BY COUPLE CAUGHT FLEEING TO EL SALVADOR, POLICE SAY
Newsweek
BY BENJAMIN FEARNOW
4/17/18

A couple in California has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly torturing and killing a Vietnam War veteran in pursuit of his financial information, police said in a press conference Monday.

Jose and Stacie Mendoza allegedly restrained, beat and suffocated Kenneth Coyle, 70, at his home in Hanford, California, on April 5 or 6, while interrogating him about his finances, according to police. The coroner's office has yet to announce Coyle's cause of death, but police said they suspect blunt force trauma and suffocation.
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Spc. Eric Levon Williams laid to rest

SC soldier gunned down at birthday party is memorialized
The State
BY TRACY KIMBALL
April 08, 2018

ROCK HILL
Several hundred mourners gathered Saturday at Gethsemane Church in Rock Hill to lay to rest. Spc. Eric Levon Williams at a party at the former American Legion on Cherry Road. Williams had been in the Army National Guard with a Columbia unit since enlisting after graduating from South Pointe High School in May 2013. Williams, 24, was shot and killed March 31.

He was given full military honors at the service. A bugle played "Taps" as two members of the Army National Guard Honor Guard folded an American flag draped across his casket.
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Busload of Vietnam veterans honored Army National Guard veteran James Wood

About 300 attend funeral for slain Winchester, Tenn., veteran
Times Free Press
Philip J Loenz III
February 19, 2018

WINCHESTER, Tenn. — No one would dispute that paying tribute to a deceased 50-year-old Winchester military veteran is a particularly sad event.

The body of U.S. Army National Guard veteran James Wood lies under the American flag Friday at his funeral service, where more than 300 people showed up after Wood's mother sent out a plea for people to attend because she was unable to do so.

(Photo courtesy Philip Lorenz/Winchester Herald Chronicle)

About 300 people attended the funeral for James Leon Wood on Friday at Winchester's Watson-North Funeral Home.

Most of those attending the service were military veterans from Franklin County and other counties in Middle and Southeast Tennessee, even a busload of Vietnam veterans from Chattanooga. Some of Wood's friends also attended his service.

Many of those who attended Friday's services were answering a call last week from Wood's mother, Bertha Allen, who lives in New Mexico and was unable to attend her son's funeral. Wood was the victim of a homicide committed some time over the last several months, and six people, including his wife and her two adult children, have now been charged in his death.

His body was found in January buried under a concrete slab in the backyard of his own home.

David Michael, who lives in Tullahoma, described Wood as "a good friend and fishing buddy," just before the funeral service got underway.

Michael said he feels sad at the loss of his friend, but "we are celebrating his life, he was a gentle soul."
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Why did National Guard soldier and Iraq War veteran kill Father

Hospitalized veteran with PTSD tells of killing father at Fergus Falls home
Duluth News Tribune
By Robin Huebner
Feb 10, 2018

ST. PETER, Minn. — Inside the fortified quarters of Minnesota's highest-security psychiatric hospital, Dustin Michael Defiel has spent the past year and a half of his life.

Dustin Defiel, 30, is shown at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minn., a secure psychiatric hospital, during a recent interview. Randy Cadwell / Forum News Service

The former National Guard soldier and Iraq War veteran shot and killed his father, Rick Defiel, on June 1, 2016, in the family's home in Fergus Falls, Minn.

He was found not guilty due to mental deficiency and was committed to the Minnesota Security Hospital as mentally ill and dangerous.

Defiel, now 30, maintains he is neither of those and doesn't belong at the facility.

He wrote to The Forum newspaper of Fargo-Moorhead stating a desire to tell "my side of the story," one in which he claims he acted in self-defense against a father who used to abuse him, verbally and physically.
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Afghanistan veteran charged with murder shocks community

Soldier charged with Dallas murder battled PTSD, says family
Senior pastor William Nkea is still trying to understand how his nephew, Bobby Ngendung, 23, went from a soldier serving his country in Afghanistan to a man charged with murder, apparently so out of control, he had to be held down for his mug shot.
KHOU 11 News
Author: Monica Hernandez
February 8, 2018

Senior pastor William Nkea is still trying to understand how his nephew, Bobby Ngendung, 23, went from a soldier serving his country in Afghanistan to a man charged with murder, apparently so out of control, he had to be held down for his mug shot.

"I knew he was battling PTSD," said Nkea. "He looked a little depressed and a little isolated."

The VA was treating Ngendung for PTSD, said Nkea.

Ngendung was discharged from the army as a Private First Class, said Nkea. WFAA asked the Army communications team for more details, but they had not been provided as of press time.

Two of Ngendung's roommates came home to their apartment in the 5600 block of SMU Boulevard between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday to find Ngendung acting "very worried and psychotic" and "pacing back and forth," saying "I {expletive} up, I {expletive} up, I put my hands on...." without finishing the sentence. Then, police said, he referred to the closet and the color red.

His roommates were able to calm him down and drive him to the hospital. Fearing he killed the fourth roommate, Michael Mitchel, they alerted a security guard.
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Arizona Fire Captain's life ended because of road rage

A Marine veteran tried to confront a tailgating driver and was shot in the head, officials say
Washington Post
By Kristine Phillips
February 5, 2018

An off-duty Arizona fire captain was shot and killed in an alleged road-rage incident Sunday by a man who told investigators he thought his gun was not loaded, authorities said.

A city colleague was lost to us today, we mourn with the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department on the death of Fire Captain Kyle Brayer.

Kyle Brayer, a former Marine and 10-year veteran of the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department, was riding in a golf cart with friends early Sunday morning in Scottsdale when a man in a red Scion coupe began driving closely, nearly hitting the back of the cart, police said.

After the cart pulled up to a stop sign, Brayer walked over to the coupe and was shot in the head, according to police. The 34-year-old died at a hospital.
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Homeless Vietnam Veteran Murdered in Vegas

ONLY ON 8: Homeless man shot, killed was a Vietnam veteran
Las Vegas Now
By: Shakala Alvaranga
Posted: Feb 05, 2018

LAS VEGAS - Oneida Lewis-Baker hadn't heard from her father, 64-year-old James Lewis, for years.

Though their communication was basically non existent, Oneida never stopped searching for him.

"I looked for my dad for years and I couldn't find him," Lewis-Baker said.

It turns out, James lived in the same city as her and was the third homeless person killed last week.

Police believe their deaths may be connected.

"To watch someone drive twice by him, get out and shoot him like he didn't have any loved ones, that was heartbreaking," she said.

A small memorial with candles now sits where Lewis was shot. In the surveillance video, a man gets out of an SUV at 4:15 a.m. early Friday morning, fires two shots at Lewis, and runs away.

There was no struggle and Lewis never even appeared to wake up.

"You took someone who served this country. You took a military veteran," Lewis-Baker said.
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Decorated Vietnam Veteran Walter Bryant Jr and Daughter Found Murdered

Decorated veteran, daughter identified as victims in SE Indiana slaying
WLWT 5 News
January 22, 2018

AURORA, Ind.
A decorated Vietnam War veteran and his daughter have been identified as the victims in an Aurora, Indiana, double slaying.

The bodies of Walter Bryant Jr., 78, and his daughter Faith Craig, 58, were found Friday night in a home in the 5000 block of Douglas Drive.

Neighbors said Bryant was a decorated Vietnam War veteran.

Indiana State Police were called to the home for a welfare check and found the bodies inside.

Two people were taken into custody Saturday in Pulaski County, Kentucky, a mostly-rural area in the southern portion of the state, in connection to the case.
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Julia Jacobson and her dog found in shallow grave

UPDATE

Coroner Identifies Remains of Missing 

Retired Army Veteran Found in Southern 

California Desert

Remains of Missing Army Veteran Found Buried in California

AP

December 1, 2017

ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in Southern California believe they've found the remains of a retired Army captain who went missing in September.

Police in the city of Ontario say Friday that they found the remains of Julia Jacobson and her dog in a shallow grave.

Investigators say her remains were found after a tip from her ex-husband, Dalen Ware, of Phoenix. He was arrested in October on suspicion of murder in connection with her death.

Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the killing.

Jacobson had been last seen Sept. 2 and days later her SUV was found near her San Diego home with keys in the ignition.

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Innocent Vietnam Veteran Released from Prison...After 38 Years!

Man Who Spent Nearly 40 Years Behind Bars for Crime He Did Not Commit Speaks Out
NBC San Diego
Wendy Fry

Craig Coley, a 70-year-old Vietnam veteran, hopes authorities can still find the man who killed his then-girlfriend and her 4-year-old son in 1978

Craig Richard Coley has spent more than 38 years behind bars for a double homicide he did not commit. On Thanksgiving Day, he tasted freedom.

On Thursday morning, Coley woke up in Carlsbad, California, just blocks from the beach, a free man for the first time since Nov. 11, 1978.

During an hour-long exclusive interview with NBC 7, the 70-year-old Vietnam veteran broke down and cried while reading details of the horrific crime that put him away.

“In the early morning hours, of November 11, 1978, Rhonda Wicht was beaten and strangled to death in her apartment. Her 4-year-old son...”

Coley has maintained his innocence from behind bars for more than 38 years.

He was arrested on Veteran’s Day 1978 after serving his country in the U.S. Navy. His service included several deployments to Vietnam aboard USS Enterprise and USS Bainbridge.

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Retired Marine Killed While Barbecuing in Park

BSO: Man involved in I-95 crash fatally shot former Marine

7 News Miami

October 26, 2017

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities are investigating after, they said, a man shot a retired U.S. Marine who was a longtime friend in Pompano Beach before he was involved in a crash that shut down Interstate 95 for several hours, Thursday.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the victim was shot dead at a park near Northwest 15th Place and Third Avenue, at around 7:30 p.m.

“The victim was shot multiple times,” said BSO Spokesperson Joy Oglesby. “When he was found, he was pronounced dead on scene by Pompano Beach Fire Rescue.”

Neighbors said the victim, 46-year-old Trevor Mitchell, was shot while barbecuing for a family in mourning.

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Missing Veteran Julia Jacobson's Ex-Husband Arrested

Missing Army Veteran Julia Jacobson Now Believed Dead, Ex-Husband Arrested
NBC News
by BIANCA HILLIER
October 17, 2017

A San Diego Army veteran who disappeared last month is now believed to be dead, according to local officials.

Julia Jacobson, 37, has been missing since September 2, 2017. She was last seen on security video at a store in Ontario, California with her Wheaten Terrier, Boogie. According to a press release from the Ontario Police Department on October 16, “detectives now have reason to believe” Julia and Boogie are both deceased.

While Julia and Boogie’s remains have not yet been located, on Friday October 13, police arrested Julia’s ex-husband on suspicion of her murder.

According to the press release, through a coordinated effort with the Phoenix Police Department and the FBI’s Arizona Violent Crimes Task Force unit, Dalen Larry Ware was arrested at his home in Laveen, Arizona. He was then transferred to the San Bernardino County West Valley Detention Center and is awaiting booking.
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William Chrisman Iraq Veteran Killed on Second Job Protecting Woman

Security guard shot, killed outside of Jacksonville strip club was veteran, father

CBS 47 Action News

September 27, 2017

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The man killed trying to break up a fight outside of a Jacksonville strip club early Wednesday morning was a veteran and a father, his family tells Action News Jax.

William Chrisman was an Iraq War veteran who did two tours and had four young children, his father-in-law Mike Ellis Cooper said.

Cooper said Chrisman also worked for Harley-Davidson in Jacksonville. Chrisman worked at Flash Dancers two nights a week to pick up some extra cash. He wasn't supposed to work that night, but someone called in so he picked up the extra shift, Cooper said.

Chrisman was trying to break up a fight between two customers that started inside the club when he was shot in the parking lot of Flash Dancers early Wednesday morning.

“He was standing up for somebody that was weaker, that was being picked on. He stepped in to stop it, (which) ended up costing him his life,” Cooper said.

Anyone with information on those individuals is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS to remain anonymous.

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Veteran Chandler Davis Stood for Slain Officers--Gunned Down At Home

Veteran who saluted slain Dallas officers fatally shot, police say

The Star Telegram 
BY RYAN OSBORNE 
JULY 24, 2017 3:52 PM

The former Army combat medic told the Star-Telegram that he wanted to show that the Dallas gunman — Micah Johnson, a former soldier — did not represent people in the armed forces.

THE COLONY An Army veteran who saluted the five slain Dallas police officers for hours last summer was fatally shot by his brother in The Colony on Sunday, police said.

Retired Army combat medic Chandler Davis showed his support for the slain Dallas Police officers outside the headquarters of the Dallas Police Department last year. Davis was killed in The Colony on Sunday, police said. (Joyce Marshall jlmarshall@star-telegram.com)

Officers found Chandler Davis, 34, with a gunshot wound to his chest inside a home in the 5200 block of Ragan Road about 5:20 p.m., according to a news release. He was taken to Medical City Plano hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

His brother, John Davis, 38, was at the home and was taken into custody for questioning, the news release said. read more here