Fort Liberty news

The horrific death of a Fort Liberty soldier is still an open investigation four years later.

In May 2020, Roman-Martinez went camping with a group of soldiers at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina while serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Unit at Fort Bragg, which is now Fort Liberty. One of the group members reported Roman-Martinez missing to 911 a few days after the excursion. A few miles from Shackleford Banks, his decapitated head was discovered washed up on the coast a week later. No charges have been brought in relation to his death, and no further remains have been discovered since. Roman-Martinez's death occurred before the Army's unified cold case unit was created in 2022.

His tragedy spurred the military to seek for legislation in Congress aimed at increasing communication in murder investigations. Representative Norma Torres, a Democrat from California who assisted in passing the legislation, urged lawmakers to boost money for military criminal investigation units, such as the Army's, in May. According to Torres, financing is required to manage the bulk of military cases, such as the cold case involving Roman-Martinez. The Army urged anyone with knowledge to come forward Thursday, four years after Roman-Martinez was reported missing. A reward of up to $50,000 is still available from the Army for reliable information regarding the events leading up to his death.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division's special agents can be reached at 910-391-4911 if you have any information. You can also talk to the special agents about ways to be anonymous.