A Fort Bliss soldier is set to be formally charged with sexual assault after Private First Class Asia Graham was found dead in her barracks on New Year’s Eve.
According to reports, the 19-year-old human resource specialist from North Carolina told her family that she was raped in December 2019.
She had been seeking justice at the time of her death.
Graham was found lifeless in her barracks on December 31 but the exact cause of death hasn’t been released. The US Army Criminal Investigation Command ruled out foul play.
In an interview with WBTV, Asia’s mother Nicole Graham said: “Do I think she was murdered? No.
“But do I think if it would have been handled better from the beginning, I think she would have had the proper help before and she would have been OK.”
Lt. Col. Allie Payne, First Armored Division and Fort Bliss Public Affairs Officer said in a statement: “On January 8, 2021, Maj. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, 1st Armored Division commander, personally ordered the referral of charges against a Fort Bliss Private First Class to a general court-martial.
“The referred charges include one specification alleging the sexual assault of Pfc. Asia M. Graham. A military judge will be detailed to the case to arraign the Soldier and docket a trial date.”
Graham just completed Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri when she arrived at Fort Bliss in December 2019.
The 19-year-old was assigned to I-501st Attack Battalion, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade.
According to reports, Fort Bliss was her first station.
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Replaced!