The US military on Sunday confirmed the death of a 20-year-old soldier who went missing last week at Fort Drum, New York, and noted that foul play is suspected.
The United States Army Criminal Investigation Command said in a statement Sunday that Cpl. Hayden Allen Harris was found dead after being last heard from Thursday 8:00 pm to Friday 6:30 am. The release said law enforcement officials suspected foul play but did not provide additional details.
The New York Times reported that Harris’s body was found in a remote part of northern New Jersey, and local authorities said a fellow soldier had been arrested in connection with his death.
Officials said Harris was meeting someone in Watertown, NY, “for some sort of auto deal,” and noted that the 2016 Ford Mustang Coupe he allegedly drove was found.
“We are working closely with several law enforcement agencies, including Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bryam Township Police Department on this investigation,” Chris Gray, an Army CID spokesman, said in the announcement. “We really appreciate their work in this ongoing case.”
Harris, who was posthumously promoted to Lance Corporal, was from Guys, Tenn., And joined the military in March 2019. He trained at Fort Benning in Georgia before moving to Fort Drum in July 2019.
Brig. Gene. Brett Funck, the acting senior commander of the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum, said in a release on Sunday: “We are devastated.”
“It was well known here that Corporal Harris was a great soldier, and as we share our grief with his friends and family, I hear over and over again how – and most importantly – he was a really wonderful, caring person,” said Funck. “His death is a huge loss to his loved ones, this Division and our nation.”
Harris had received two Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal.