(HorizonPost.com) – Autopsies performed on the three Marines who were found dead inside a vehicle on July 23 revealed that the cause of death in each case was carbon monoxide poisoning, ABC News reported.
According to a press release from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, Wednesday’s autopsies determined that the deaths of the three Marines found dead last weekend were consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Camp Lejeune identified the three Marines as Lance Cpl. Ivan Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida, Lance Cpl. Merax Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Lance Cpl. Tanner Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a 911 dispatcher received a call last Sunday morning from Dockery’s mother in Oklahoma. She said that her son had not arrived on his flight to Oklahoma Saturday night. Dockery’s mother told the dispatcher that the supervisor in his unit said a sergeant was on the way to the location of Dockery’s phone.
A missing person report was filed and deputies responded Sunday morning.
During the investigation, authorities found the bodies of the three Marines inside a car parked at the Hampstead Speedway, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
Pender County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chester Ward told the Associated Press that the department received a missing person report on one of the three men. He said no drugs were found inside the vehicle and foul play was not suspected at this time.
In a press release last week, Brig. Gen. Michael McWilliams, the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the three Marines. He said Camp Lejeune is focused on providing the “resources and support” necessary to those impacted by their tragic deaths.
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