An Army soldier and a 16-year-old were accused of killing an infantryman stationed in Fort Drum, New York.
Cpl. Hayden Harris, 20, was traveling to Watertown, NY, for a vehicle transaction, but authorities found him shot dead in a wooded area of Byram Township, NJ, on December 19. The body was buried under the snow.
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The Sussex County NJ attorney’s office said Spc. Jamaal Mellish, 23, and the unidentified young man were charged with murder, kidnapping and other charges.
Mellish is in military custody in Oneida County, NY, pending extradition to New Jersey. The teenager is in custody at a juvenile detention center.
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Mellish faces six charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, illegal possession of a firearm and suppression of evidence. The young man faces four charges, including kidnapping, manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm.
Harris, from Guys, Tennessee, joined the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in July 2019 after training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
He served as an infantryman for the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Combat Brigade, but was promoted to corporal after his death. He received two medals for Army Achievement, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, according to the 10th Mountain Division.
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“We are devastated,” Brig. General Brett Funck, acting commander for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, said in a statement at the time of Harris’ death.
“It was well known that Corporal Harris was a great soldier, and as we share our grief with his friends and family, I hear over and over again how he was – and most importantly – a really wonderful and caring person. Death is a tremendous loss for your loved ones, this Division and our nation. “
According to the 10th Mountain Division, members of his unit reported his disappearance just hours after losing contact with him.
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Several police departments joined the search for Harris after the army asked the public for help.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information related to Harris’ death to contact Lieutenant Nicholas Elmo at the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 383-1570 or Det. Robert Tierney at the Byram Township Police Department at (973) 347-4008.
The Associated Press and Sam Dorman of Fox News contributed to this report.