FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., June 30, 2008
Chilling Leads In Pregnant Soldier Death
Army: Fellow Soldier Is Person Of Interest; Newspaper Gets Letter From Alleged Serial Killer
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Spc. Megan Lynn Touma, 23, was seven months pregnant and had recently arrived from a base in Germany. She was temporarily assigned to Fort Bragg's 19th Replacement Company before reporting to a dental clinic at the fort. (AP PHOTO)
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The soldier is training at a school where special operations ranging from raids to reconstruction projects are taught, said Lt. Col. John Clearwater, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The soldier is studying psychological operations.
"We understand and are aware that a soldier assigned to the command as a student for training is a person of interest. We are not aware of any charges," Clearwater said.
Telephone and e-mail messages left for a Fayetteville Police Department spokesman were not returned Saturday.
Police have called the death of Spc. Megan Lynn Touma, 23, suspicious. She was found after a maintenance supervisor smelled a foul odor coming from a room with a "Do Not Disturb" sign.
Touma, a dental specialist, was seven months pregnant and had recently arrived from a base in Germany. She was temporarily assigned to Fort Bragg's 19th Replacement Company before reporting to a dental clinic at the fort.
A source close to the Army's investigation say the person of interest served with Touma at the German base, reports The Fayetteville Observer.
Police also are investigating a letter sent to a newspaper purported to be written by a person claiming responsibility for Touma's death. Brian Tolley, executive editor of the Observer, said the paper turned the letter over to police.
In the letter, the author confesses to being a serial killer. The author also put a symbol at the bottom of the letter similar to one used by the Zodiac killer, who was blamed for at least five slayings in California in 1968 and 1969, but never caught.
"I am responsible for the dead body that was found," the author writes, adding that "I have killed many times before in several states.
"There will be many more to come," the author says in the letter, which was posted on the newspaper's Web site.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- The baby is her fiance''s, not the "person of interest," to my understanding.
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- billmabie
Maybe it is because they are human as well. You think a man on active duty becomes celebate ? - Reply to this comment
- mrbrill is a know moron on these sites, ignore him and he goes away.
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- I just love how people are quick to criticize minor points like the title of this article is "misleading". I am sure you can find other things to criticize like perhaps your neighbor didn''''t sweep the sidewalk after edging the lawn... Or yelling at your kids because they didn''''t do what you told them to do.
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Posted by mrbrill at 01:56 PM : Jun 30, 2008
Seems to me YOU just did the same thing...lol - Reply to this comment
- Chilling leads?
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- Why are there women sexually active in the military??
Not long ago you were court martialed for getting a sunburn(seriously/destroying government property)
Don''t you know other countries militaries are laughing about pregnant soldiers/*** - Reply to this comment
- Why would he just now be coming forward by sending letters to a newspaper after having "killed many times before in several states"? Why has he never come forward before??? It is definitely someone trying to throw the police off...
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- Also if you read the local paper''s version of this story its alot different http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=297965
And her death was just declared a homicide - Reply to this comment
- I just love how people are quick to criticize minor points like the title of this article is "misleading". I am sure you can find other things to criticize like perhaps your neighbor didn''t sweep the sidewalk after edging the lawn... Or yelling at your kids because they didn''t do what you told them to do.
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- GoShootUrslf,
Did you read the article? The case is full of leads. A letter from a person who says they are the murderer. That note along could provide much needed forensic evidence.
The ME (medical examiner) will not rule on the cause and manner of death until certain. They may be waiting on additional evidence. It is hard to change that info once submitted.
Do some research before you write!!! - Reply to this comment
- I like anyone else would like to know developments on these cases. These made up headlines just tick me off.
Posted by patriot12436
No kidding, CBS su(ks...there isn''t one mention of any "LEAD" in this story at all, just a kid who she was stationed with before - after all these days they can''t even SAY if it was murder????? - Reply to this comment
- Posted by demslie2u
Did you wake up on crack this morning? That is just too stupid to even be sarcasm.
Posted by minnick8
Remember, school is out and there are kids on these sights posting now...stand by for idiotic comments. - Reply to this comment
- The killer is another soldier, married, who knocked this girl up. He sent the letter to the paper in an attempt (feeble as it is) to deflect focus on to another killer. Duh.
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- if its another solider, then yes he has possibly killed and yes he probably will again, its called iraq...
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- "We understand and are aware that a soldier assigned to the command as a student for training is a person of interest. We are not aware of any charges," Clearwater said.
Susupicious? Clearwater must be part of "military intelligence." It would take a great brain to figure out that the death of a previously healthy 23 year old female left rotting in a bath tub with a do-no-disturb sign on the door might be suspicious. - Reply to this comment
- Its all a Bush plot to cover up the fact that she was having an affair with *** Cheney cause he''''s such a stud muffin.
Posted by demslie2u
Did you wake up on crack this morning? That is just too stupid to even be sarcasm. - Reply to this comment
- demslie2u, they wait until the person goes to the media, then they deny knowing the person, then the person commits "suicide" with a form letter nearby.
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- I like anyone else would like to know developments on these cases. These made up headlines just tick me off.
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- When you print this type of story you are only feeding the monsters ego.If you dont print it the killer gets pee oed and kills again.how does this add to your bottomline of profits?these type of murders are becoming as common here on US soil as in third world communist countries.wheres is the good news cbs or have you become blinded by the plight?
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- Patriot, I agree. Wait until you get something pertinent then report it!
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