A Fort Drum soldier was charged on Monday for killing his roommate and fellow soldier. Officials have indicated that the charges include “premeditated murder and obstruction of justice.”
In a Fort Drum press release on Monday, officials announced that charges had been “preferred” against Specialist Riley Birbilas, a soldier with the 10th Mountain Division, over the death of Specialist Jacob Allen Ashton.
“The general nature of the charges are premeditated murder and obstruction of justice in violation of Articles 118 and 131b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” the press release stated. “The charges are allegations and Spc. Birbilas is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
According to Monday’s press release, Birbilas is currently in custody under pretrial confinement and is waiting for a preliminary hearing.
Syracuse.com reported that 21-year-old Ashton was found dead at Fort Drum last week. Ashton’s aunt, Michelle Ustupski, said the solider’s body was discovered in his car in one of the base’s parking lots. Officials previously told Ustupski that Ashton had been killed as a result of blunt force trauma.
According to Syracuse.com, 22-year-old Birbilas was arrested last week and was held in custody over the weekend at the Oneida County jail in Oriskany, which is located roughly two hours from Fort Drum.
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Syracuse.com reported that Birbilas could face a potential court-martial. If the soldier is convicted of murder, he could eventually face life in military prison or death. Officials have not yet revealed a possible motive for the alleged murder.
According to Syracuse.com, both Ashton and Birbilas were deployed to the Middle East for nine months last summer as part of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
“Specialist Birbilas is originally from Kodiak, Alaska, and serves in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI),” Monday’s Fort Drum press release stated. “He joined the Army in 2021, and he attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA. He has deployed to Iraq.”
Ustupski told Syracuse.com that it was difficult for Ashton’s family to know that he safely completed his deployment in Iraq just to be killed by a fellow American soldier at Fort Drum. Ashton’s aunt also explained that his enlistment contract was scheduled to end in December and that he had expressed interest in becoming a firefighter or police officer.
“He was just 21,” Ustupski said. “He was just getting ready to start his life.”
