Photo: U.S Army
Two Navy SEALs currently serving with the elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden have been arrested on felony murder and involuntary manslaughter charges for their alleged roles in the death of an Army Green Beret in Mali.
PEOPLE confirms charges were filed Thursday against the two members of SEAL Team Six and two Marines, whose names are being withheld.
All four also face conspiracy, obstruction of justice, hazing and burglary charges. If court marshaled, they could be sent to prison for life.
Melgar, 43, died while serving in Bamako, Mali, according to a Navy statement.
The four defendants allegedly forced their way into Melgar’s private bedroom on the night of June 4, 2017, after grabbing rolls of duct tape.
Melgar was then bound with duct tape, the charging documents allege, before being strangled to death with a fatal chokehold.
No motive is addressed in the charges.
The suspects allegedly broke into Melgar’s room “with the intent to assault” him and allegedly started “hazing” him “while he was sleeping.”
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Melgar was originally from Lubbock, Texas, and enlisted in the Army in January 2012.
His family issued a statement in the immediate aftermath of his death, calling Melgar “a loving husband, father, son and brother.”
The four defendants will be in court Dec. 10 for a preliminary hearing. Attorney information was not available for them.
Charging documents state the two SEALs were serving with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group — the official name for SEAL Team Six. The two Marines are assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
The defendants are free until their upcoming hearing.
source: people.com
