| MURDERS AT FT. BRAGG
2002: Summer of Tragedy Fort Bragg, North Carolina: one of the Army's largest bases with 45,000 troops, home of the famed 82nd Airborne and the elite Special Forces command. The Army Times voted it "Best Place to Live" in 2001. However, the nation was shocked when four soldier-husbands allegedly murdered their young wives during a six-week period. Timeline of Events
June 11: Sgt. 1st Class Rigoberto Nieves, 32, a member of the Third Special Forces Group, had come home from Afghanistan just two days prior to "resolve personal issues." He reportedly argued with his wife, Teresa, shot her in the head, and then shot himself. They had one child. June 29: Master Sgt. William Wright, 36, member of the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion—a Special Forces unit, also requested to come home from Afghanistan early to work out "personal problems." He allegedly strangled his wife, Jennifer, while their three children slept. Three weeks after reporting her missing, Wright confessed to the crime and led police to where he had buried his wife wrapped in his parachute bag. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
July 9: Sgt. Cedric Ramon Griffin, 28, was a member of the 37th Engineer Battalion—not involved in the Afghan war. He allegedly stabbed his estranged wife, Marilyn, more than 50 times and then set their home on fire. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
July 19: Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Floyd, 30, a member of the elite Delta Force, shot his wife, Andrea, and then himself. She had recently asked for a divorce. Their three young children now live with their grandmother, Penny.
In the end, nine children had lost their mothers; four of them had lost both parents. Possible Connections
Three of the four soldiers were members of the elite Special Forces command.
Lariam, an anti-malaria drug reportedly given to all soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. Among the side effects listed on its label are: "psychotic or paranoid reaction, anxiety, agitation and aggression." The military is investigating Lariam, but they have indicated they don't believe there is a connection.
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