Fort Bliss soldier, 27, 'takes his own life' days before two other officers are killed in separate traffic accidents - and two weeks after female soldier died having made a sexual assault allegation
Staff Sergeant John D.S. Bailey, 27, from Haiku, Hawaii, died at an on-post residence at Fort Bliss, Texas, on January 14. The circumstances are currently under investigation.
Fort Bliss army detectives have opened an investigation after a 27-year-old officer 'took his own life' two days before two other soldiers were killed in separate and unrelated car accidents over the weekend.
Staff Sergeant John D.S. Bailey, from Haiku, Hawaii, took his own life on January 14 his father told KITV.
Two days later Sergeant Dejaun K. Frazier, 43, was killed in a motorcycle crash followed by Specialist Kenmaj D. Graham, 21, who died in a hit and run on January 17.
The three deaths in four days at the troubled base come two weeks after Private First Class Asia Graham, 19, was found unresponsive in barracks on New Years Eve after claiming fellow soldier Christian Alvarado, 21, sexually assaulted her in 2019.
The circumstances are currently under investigation by Army officials but Staff Sergeant Bailey's father Matt Bailey has claimed that his son committed suicide on Friday after his 'demons overcame him'.
Sgt. 1st Class Dejaun K. Frazier, 43, was killed in a motorcycle crash on January 16 and Specialist Kenmaj D. Graham, 21, was killed in a hit and run crash on January 17
Asia Graham, 19, was found dead in her barracks on New Year’s Eve. One year prior, she reported she had been sexually assaulted
Mr Bailey warned of a mental health crisis in the military and said on Facebook: 'They became too much for to bear and he took his own life'.
Sergeant Bailey was the second of four soldiers to die at Fort Bliss in three weeks, after Private First Class Asia Graham, 19, was found unresponsive in her barracks on New Year's Eve.
Prior to Asia Graham's death she had accused private Christian Alvarado, 21, of sexually assaulting her in 2019.
On January 14 Alvarado was arraigned in a general court-martial hearing and charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of aggravated assault and two counts of making a false statement to Army investigators.
Fort Bliss is just the latest Army base to face intense scrutiny in recent months, joining the likes of Fort Hood, where Vanessa Guillen was murdered, and Fort Bragg, for a series of sexual assault claims and deaths
Sergeant Bailey was an Indirect Fire Infantryman, who joined the U.S. Army in January 2013.
He arrived at Fort Bliss, his third duty posting, in March 2019 and was assigned as the Fire Direction Chief, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.
Captain Kristopher Italiano, Headquarters Company Commander, said the base was 'deeply saddened about the loss of such a bright and talented NCO'.
Captain Italiano added: 'Staff Sgt. Bailey was above all else, a genuine and incredibly caring person. He was a member of our Family. His kindness and compassion toward his fellow Soldiers extended well beyond the scope of his daily duties as a mortar platoon sergeant', as reported by KFox14.
John Bailey's father Matt posted on Facebook that his son, pictured in an undated photo together, had taken his own life and warned of a rising mental health crisis in the military
But his father Matt warned that military suicides are a rising crisis and said on Facebook: 'Reach out to your loved ones - military or not. Let them know that they don’t have to carry their burdens alone'
He added: 'If in the military, tell them that it’s not a weakness to ask for help. John’s friends and family have been shattered by his death. Nothing will ever make that pain go away, but if by talking about it we can prevent even one unnecessary death, it might lessen it a bit.', as reported by KITV4.
Private First Class Asia Graham, 19, a human resource specialist, reported that she had been sexually assaulted by another soldier. She said the assault happened in December 2019 and an investigation into her claims ended on December 1 in which a top commander agreed with her. However, just one month later she was found dead in her barracks in El Paso, Texas
Pfc. Christian G. Alvarado has been charged with the sexual assault of fellow soldier Asia Graham, who was found dead in her barracks on New Years Eve, appearing in court on January 14
Foul play is not suspected in Graham's death, according to her family, who live in Cleveland and Lincoln Counties.But as Graham's family mourns her death, they still have several concerns regarding how she died
Asia Graham, whose family come from Cleveland and Lincoln Counties, was a human resource specialist who joined the Army in July 2019.
She arrived at Fort Bliss in December 2019 after completing Basic Combat Training in Missouri and Advanced Individual Training in South Carolina. She had only been at the base for a matter of weeks before the alleged assault occurred.
She reported the assault to her chain of command six months later on June 1st, and an investigation was immediately launched.
Charge sheets show Alvarado was interviewed June 11 by CID agents, which is when he allegedly made false statements to investigators.
Alvarado is accused of raping Graham on Dec. 30, 2019, while she was 'unconscious,' according to the charge sheet.
She was found dead in her barracks room this past New Year's Eve, a year and a day after the first alleged assault occurred.
Sgt. 1st Class Dejaun K. Frazier, 43, a native of Tallahassee, Florida, was a noncommissioned officer assigned to the 1st Armored Division Artillery Brigade, as reported by 21 CBS DFW.
He died after a motorcycle crash in far east El Paso on January 16.
Frazier, who previously served in the Marine Corps, joined the U.S. Army in February 2011 as a 25W, Telecommunications Operations Chief.
Specialist Graham, 21, was allegedly on foot when he was struck by a vehicle on January 17, a spokesperson for Fort Bliss told CBS 4 News in El Paso.
Graham was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries, according to officials.
Graham, a native of Wichita, Kansas, was a 19D, Cavalry Scout, who joined the U.S. Army in July 2017 from Kansas City, Mo. Fort Bliss was his first duty station.
Fort Bliss is just the latest Army base to face intense scrutiny in recent months, joining the likes of Fort Hood, where Vanessa Guillen was murdered, and Fort Bragg, for a series of sexual assault claims and deaths.
Most recently, soldier Sergeant Keith Lewis, 31, at Fort Bragg in North Carolina shot his heavily pregnant wife in front of their three-year-old daughter then turned the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide on December 20.
Earlier that same month Master Sgt. William Lavigne II, 37, and Army veteran Timothy Dumas, 44, were both found dead in a training area at Fort Bragg on December 2 in what’s suspected to be a drug deal gone wrong.
Fort Bragg has seen less eyebrow-raising death cases at the base compared to Fort Hood, with just one homicide reported in 2020 before the latest investigations began.