[cousinrose]

Just imagine this. Think of your son, brother, cousin, uncle or nephew. Imagine finding out that he was stabbed and burned and left for dead for four months in the woods. Imagine his killers going home to their families and telling their vivid stories of how they had survived the war. Think about how he no longer has a future. Think about how we will never see him again. Please understand how much it hurts to have a loved one MURDERED. I know that infantry means to kill. They are supposed to go through evaluations of their mental health once they come back from combat, or so the army claims. Say what you want about the motive to kill, just remember that there is no reason to kill.

[epluribus unum1]

Posted on Tue, Nov. 11, 2003



Murder charges against three soldiers reduced
Fourth soldier held in California; hearing set for Wednesday
BY MURIEL TAN
Staff Writer

Murder charges against three Fort Benning-based soldiers were reduced Monday during
a Recorder's Court hearing.

Hours later, the District Attorney's office filed a motion in Muscogee Superior Court
seeking to revoke their bonds and order all three held without bond until further
proceedings.

The three soldiers -- Jacob Burgoyne, Mario Naverrete and Douglas Woodcoff, all 24 --
had each been charged with murdering fellow Iraq War veteran Richard R. Davis, also 24,
days after their return from Iraq to Fort Benning in July.

During the 8 a.m. hearing, Recorder's Court Judge Michael Cielinski reduced the murder
charges, but found probable cause to bind them over on charges of concealing the death
of another. A hearing on the bond revocation motion is now set for Wednesday.

A fourth suspect in the murder, Alberto Martinez, 24, is being held in California
pending extradition to Georgia on a murder charge.

All five soldiers were members of B Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment,
part of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, court records show.

On Friday, acting on a tip from an informant, investigators with Fort Benning's Criminal
Investigation Division went to a wooded area off the 4400 block of Milgen Road, police
said. There they discovered skeletal remains later identified as belonging to Davis.

He had been stabbed multiple times, according to autopsy results. Testimony given by
police Monday indicated that he was later set on fire.

A private in the U.S. Army originally from Missouri, Davis was reported missing July
16, three days after his return from Iraq, authorities said.

"He returned on July 13, was last seen on July 14 at barracks and on the 16th he was
reported AWOL after not reporting for duty," Police Detective Andrew Tyner testified.
"The defendants were the last persons he was seen with."

Tyner, along with Police Detective Tony Culberson, went on to testify to each of the
men's roles before, during and after Davis' murder.

The five soldiers had gone to a Columbus strip club on Manchester Expressway and
were ordered to leave after Davis apparently insulted one of the dancers.

Burgoyne and Naverrete told police that once outside the club, an argument erupted.

"They were upset with Mr. Davis for getting them thrown out of the club," Tyner
stated. The argument continued and the men got into Martinez's car and drove off,
eventually stopping the car near the wooded area.

While Burgoyne and Naverrete continued to trade blows with Davis, "a fourth
individual" whom police have identified as Martinez, allegedly stabbed Davis in his side,
Tyner testified.

For some 15 to 20 minutes the group tried to get Martinez not to do any more harm to
the victim, Tyner testified.

Naverrete told police he tried to intervene but was apparently blocked at one point by
Burgoyne.

"Burgoyne stood between (Martinez) and the victim saying, 'He's gotta do what he's
gotta do,' " Tyner testified.

In an interview, Woodcoff told police he knew Davis but denied knowledge of the
murder.

"The information we received was that Woodcoff was present, didn't do anything to
harm Mr. Davis and didn't do anything to try to stop the fight," Tyner testified.

After the first strike with the knife, Martinez eventually delivered more blows to Davis,
police were told.

Within 30 minutes, the men then drove to a convenience store, purchased lighter fluid
and returned to the scene. Police testified that Burgoyne and at least one of the other
men then ignited the fluid, setting the body on fire.

"Some three to four days" later, the group allegedly returned to the body, this time
without Woodcoff.

"They were afraid of the aroma -- the body was moved further into the woodline,"
Culberson testified.

Arguing that there was "no evidence" that his client Woodcoff had an altercation with
the victim, attorney Mark Shelnutt argued for a dismissal of the murder charge.