Dive teams have been brought in to help find the remains of a paratrooper who was killed at the Cape Lookout National Seashore in May, officials said Thursday.
Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez, 21, was last seen May 22 while camping with fellow soldiers near Mile Marker 46 on South Core Banks.
Roman-Martinez’s partial remains were later found May 29, after washing up on Shackleford Banks Island, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
The Army Criminal Investigation Command is investigating the death as a homicide.
The autopsy report, which is from the Division of Forensic Pathology at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, notes that examiners had only a severed head, as neither the torso nor any extremities were available, according to the report
“How does someone like that end up dismembered?” Roman-Martinez’s sister, Griselda Martinez, told The Fayetteville Observer last week. “How could this happen to him? There has to be more to this story.”
Officials with Roman-Martinez’s unit, the 82nd Airborne Division, announced Thursday that special agents with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, along with the FBI’s Evidence Recovery and Dive Teams, are currently conducting law enforcement activities near the Cape Lookout National Seashore as part of an ongoing homicide investigation.
The operation is being supported by soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division.
“We are very appreciative of the specialized skills the FBI is bringing to this search effort,” said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Division. “Our special agents continue to work closely with several federal and local agencies on this investigation. We are aggressively investigating the death of this soldier and will not stop until we bring those responsible to justice.”
The Army Criminal Investigation Division is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for credible information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the homicide.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact special agents at 910-396-8777, the Military Police Desk at 910-396-1179 or submit information via https://www.p3tips.com/.
Persons with information can remain anonymous.
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