Commanders implement new screenings
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Fort Carson soldier accused of murdering 19-year-old Judilianna Lawrence is the sixth from a single brigade to be accused of murder in less than one year.
Three soldiers from the brigade were first charged in December 2007 for two separate murders.
Then in July two more soldiers from the same battalion were charged with murder.
Just this week, 21-year-old Robert Marko became the latest man in the 4th BCT to be accused.
A spokesperson with the brigade tells FOX 21 News there is no indication all of the men know each other.
Commanders have implemented an additional health screening to ensure soldiers in the brigade are physically and mentally healthy, adjusting to life back in the states, and are ready to begin another deployment in May.
"We're trying to take care of our soldiers," says Major T.G. Taylor.
These screenings for "at risk" soldiers began after five men in the brigade were already accused of murder, but months before 21-year-old Robert Marko allegedly raped and murdered 19-year-old Judilianna Lawrence.
"I think it does the best that it can," says Major Taylor. "A lot of these processes are self report processes. You go to a behavioral health specialist, and you fill out a questionnaire about how you feel."
Major Taylor couldn't tell FOX 21 News if Robert Marko had been identified as at risk, but people close to Lawrence have no doubt he was troubled.
"I've just seen his MySpace page and that is pretty freaky," says Kody Poston.
FOX 21 News asked Major Taylor if they monitor soldiers social website pages. He said that would be a violation of a soldier's First Amendment rights.
If someone had, the army would have found a man identifying himself as a killer, and someone fighting against the human race.
"I can tell you these cases are extremely disturbing to us. This is exactly the opposite of what we are instilling in our soldiers every day," says Major Taylor.
Major Taylor isn't sure why at least six soldiers with the brigade have been involved in violent crimes in the last year.
Instead, he describes the vast majority of soldiers in the brigade as good people.
"To them, they throw their hands up in the air and say, 'How could somebody do this?'" says Major Taylor.
As for Marko, El Paso County Coroner's officials have confirmed Lawrence's death is a homicide. Officials say she died of a wound to the neck.
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Click here to read about Robert Marko's web site postings.
Click on the movie camera/video icon to view the story as it aired on FOX21 News.
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