An Army soldier and a 16-year-old boy were charged with the murder of Hayden Harris, a corporal in Fort Drum, New York, who was found dead in New Jersey.
Jamaal Mellish, 23, and the unidentified teenager face charges of murder, kidnapping and possession of a second-degree weapon, according to the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Mellish was also accused of suppressing third-degree evidence.
Harris, 20, was found shot to death and buried under snow in a wooded area of Byram Township on December 19. Shortly before his death, Harris was reported missing.
Firefighters discovered the body after seeing debris and blood along a road during an annual Santa Claus ride.
“The top of the snow was stained with what appeared to be blood,” the police department said in a statement. “During a search of the snow disturbed area, the victim’s body was found about 200 meters inside the forest area buried mainly under the snow.”
Investigators said Mellish should exchange a Ford Mustang with Harris for a Chevy truck. The two had made a previous transaction, the police said.
According to an assistant prosecutor in Sussex County, authorities believe Mellish “kidnapped” Harris during the planned vehicle change.
Mellish is being held in military custody in New York, pending extradition to New Jersey. It is not clear whether he has a lawyer.
The teenager is being held in a juvenile detention center. Byram police and prosecutors did not say how the teenager was supposed to be involved.
Harris, an infantryman from the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, joined the Army in March 2019. The Tennessee native was posthumously promoted to corporal and received the Army Commendation Medal, which honors soldiers for their heroic action, accomplishments or service.
He also won several awards and honors, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Band.
“It was well known that Corporal Harris was a great soldier and, while we share our pain with his friends and family, I hear over and over again how he was – and most importantly – a really wonderful and caring person,” said Brigadier Gen. Brett Funck, interim senior commander for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, in a statement.
