Thank you for clarifying that. It was the impression I'd gotten by reading wht you posted.
So, correct me if I am wrong-
Patrick was essentially reported as being AWOL by his roommate, by his choice of calling to say he 'would not be at formation' rather than calling and reporting him missing? That seems odd, and kind of convenient for the roommate- if he was involved in his disappearance.
If Patrick last had contact with his chain of command at approx. 5pm on the 15th, that would mean that by 5pm on the 16th they could be confiscating his belongings? That would also mean the roommate would have to be there, directing them as to what items were his and what were Patricks? That is REALLY suspicious. At no time did he step in and say- he's not AWOL, he's 'missing'? The only reason not to say that would be if he knew Patrick was laying in a field, since Patrick was obviously not AWOL if his packed bag was still in the apartment.
It is not likely that Patrick took the new items he bought to a bar. They were likely left in the apartment. If they did not show up later in his possessions, either the roommate took them or the people packing his things did.
It makes no sense that the roommate would know how much money Patrick withdrew unless there was a plan to spend that money- drugs would make sense. You don't need $300 to go to a bar. Any knowlege of Patrick or the roommate being in trouble for drugs before?
Has the mom asked anyone in politics (like the governor) in her area to look into the matter? With no cooperation locally or militarily, that's the only way I can think of off the top of my head to put pressure on this one.
I'll have to think some more.
I'll try to answer your questions and clarify to the best of my ability--I am not in any way a subject matter expert on this---
1. Patricks' roommate called his SSG to inform him that Patrick would not be at the 7:30 AM formation. The chain of command, ( Leadership team including the CDR and 1SGT) would have noted that he was indeed not at formation and then they are bound by regs to start the process of declaring Patrick AWOL at 24 hours of no contact with Patrick himself. Patrick is not officially AWOL until he was absent from his duty for 24 hours, that includes verbal contact. If they had talked to Patrick on the phone they could have used a gray area within the rules and regs to hold off on processing him as AWOL. To process Patrick as missing status, it would have had to be that he went missing in a combat environment. (understand?) There are clear distinctions on how the Miltary must process a soldier given the circumstances.
About AWOL. We are talking about Official Military Status Glory. Patrick was here in the States. He was not overseas when he went missing. The military would have had no jurisdiction in the town that Patrick resided and his murder took place. At the time that Patrick did not show up for formation and 24 hours after they had no contact with Patrick it was their duty (punishable by reg if they didn't) to process him as AWOL.
Included in the AR that I referenced which is for the "absentee baggage" of a soldier of AWOL status within CONUS (Continental United States). That means someone appointed by his Chain of Command (his leadership team) which appears to have been the SSG (which could have been Patrick's squad leader I don't know) would have had to go to the apartment and not only secure any personal belongings that Patrick had at that apartment but also the military issue that he was given. At that point in time if procedures (conducted inventory, had the witnesses) were followed then his things (military and personal) were taken to the unit supply room and secured.
However, once Patrick was declared deceased (his body found) his status would have changed within the Military system and those belongings could be requested and sent to his DESIGNATED next of kin.
Again a military term. Patrick was the one who had to fill out a DD Form 93. (Record of Emergency Data) He is the one who designated his next of kin.
Who did Patrick have on his DD Form 93? That's important.
Glory, thank you so much for asking these questions. And your input at the bottom of you post!
FWIW, I am focused on Patrick's roommate. IMHO, he knows something even if he is not directly involved in Patrick's murder.
About Patrick's Mother and her access to his accounts that are held in a Credit Union. The fact that it's a Military Credit Union is beside the point in the matter of which laws govern the banking industry. What I'm trying to say is just because it has the name Military---the Military doesn't own credit unions that I"m aware of---it's more than likely a civilian bank with a name like "Pentagon Credit Union" or "Fort Hood Credit Union" as examples. (we bank at one of those I listed for reference).
Does Patrick's mother have an Active Power of Attn that lists this accnt? If so, she should be able to access the records.
Did Patrick have a will? Since he deployed to a combat arena from Fort Drum, and the will hasn't been located---his last unit would have had a copy but now we are three years down the road and they might not have it now.
Bottom line. Patrick's Mother needs a lawyer. She needs one that is well versed in Military law. They are not hard to find. Once she gets one she can petition to access any of his accnts. UNLESS: he had named someone else as his beneficiary on his DD93 form and/or his will and/or an active POA.
My questions are these: (in addition to the ones above)
1. As for the military investigation. Was it a chain of command investigation or did it involve CID? Big difference in the investigations and big difference in the exact paperwork you can request by FOIA.
2. As for the roommate of Patrick who was/is currently deployed to the Middle East: 1. Is he in the same unit? 2. Who were his and Patrick's buddies within the unit they were both in at the time of Patrick's murder? 3. Has anyone talked to them offering them the protection of anonymity? 4. Of those buddy soldiers did any of those buddies have wives? IMHO and experience it's a lot easier to get the wife's to open up and tell all they know
under the protection of anonymity if the could be tracked down they might have a goldmine of info. JMHO.