The last of the four special warfare operators accused in a 2017 slaying of a Green Beret in Mali was convicted of involuntary manslaughter by a military jury Thursday evening.
Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Mario A. Madera-Rodriguez had been charged in the death of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar. He also was found guilty of conspiracy to commit assault and battery, conspiracy to obstruct justice, housebreaking, hazing and making false statements.
The verdict mirrors the guilty plea earlier this year of the former SEAL Chief Special Warfare Operator, Tony E. DeDolph, after he admitted that he applied the chokehold that killed Melgar.
As part of DeDolph’s plea agreement, the Navy dropped charges of felony murder — a homicide occurring in the course of another serious crime — and burglary.
DeDolph also pleaded guilty to charges of hazing, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, which included an allegation that he cut an incision in Melgar’s neck normally used to open an emergency airway, in order to hide injuries from the chokehold. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Two others, former Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Matthews and former Marine Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell Jr., previously were convictedafter pleading guilty to other charges connected with Melgar’s death.
Matthews, convicted of assault, was sentenced a year in confinement and Maxwell, convicted of negligent homicide, to four years confinement.
DeDolph said he and the other three men broke into Melgar’s room intending to haze him, in retaliation for a perceived slight.
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