Ret. Col. Ann Wright holds vigil for murdered women at Fort Bragg

Retired US Army Colonel Ann Wright
PRESS CONFERENCE AND VIGIL AT FORT BRAGG TO COMMEMORATE
THE MURDER OF THREE MILITARY WOMEN AND
OTHER VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN NORTH CAROLINA

Fayetteville, North Carolina,
During October, Prevention of Domestic Violence Month, National and North Carolina organizations will commemorate the deaths of three U.S. military women who were killed in North Carolina by military males and other victims of violence in North Carolina.
WHEN: 10 am Press Conference, 12:00pm Noon Vigil, 1pm Luncheon/discussion, 3pm Wreath laying
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
WHERE:
10am Press Conference at the Quaker Peace Center, 223 Hillside Ave, Fayetteville, NC 28301 323-3912

11:00 AM - Set up for Vigil, entrance to Ft. Bragg, Yadkin Rd.

11:30 AM - Vigil to bring awareness to and speak out against DV & SA in the Military

1:00 PM – Luncheon & discussions with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault agencies Quaker House, 223 Hillside Av.

3:00 PM - Wreath Laying at Lafayette Cemetary, 2301 Ramsey St.

In a six month period from December 2007 to July 2008, four U.S. military women were killed by military males near the Army’s Fort Bragg and the Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune, two mega-military bases in North Carolina.

Three of the women were in the Army. The latest murder victim is 29-year-old US Army Sergeant Christina Smith who was killed September 30, 2008. Her husband Fort Bragg Sgt. Richard Smith, 26, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy.Also arrested was 18-year-old Mathew Kvapil, a private first class at Fort Bragg. Kvapil has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy.

Christina Smith and Kvapil are multimedia graphic illustrators and Smith is an electronics maintenance technician assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg.

Spc. Megan Touma was seven months pregnant when her body was found inside a Fayetteville hotel room June 21, 2008. A married male soldier whom she knew in Germany has since been arrested.

The estranged Marine husband of Army 2nd Lt. Holley Wimunc, an Army nurse at Fort Bragg, has been arrested in her death and the burning of her body.

Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach had been raped in May 2007 and protective orders had been issued against the alleged perpetrator, fellow Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean. The burned body of Lauterbach and her unborn baby were found in a shallow grave in the backyard of Laurean’s home in January 2008. Laurean fled to Mexico, where he was captured by Mexican authorities. He is currently awaiting extradition to the United States to stand trial. Lauterbach’s mother testified before Congress on July 31, 2008, that the Marine Corps ignored warning signs that Laurean was a danger to her daughter .

Representatives of Veterans for Peace, the Coalition to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the Military and the Quaker Peace House will commemorate these deaths and ask concerned members of the military and civilian community of Fayetteville to join them in these events.



Bill Perry, Service Officer
Disabled American Veteran CSO
Make ANY ERROR in the VA Claims maze,
& you'll be forced into a 2 year Appeal process
Get Expert Advice, Evaluations, & Treatment
215-945-1269