NC - Fort Bragg Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez, 21, Cape Lookout, 23 May 2020 *severed head washed ashore*

[mlhenn]

Enrique's camping party consisted of 7 or. 8 other people. They would have camped on the beach possibily with tents because I could find no campgrounds with cabins listed for Shackleford Banks. There are no concession stands on Shackleford Banks either. They would have had to bring enough food and. water for all 7 or 8 of them. I didn't realize initially there were that many of them. What happened to the buddy system where we have each others back ? Not very likely that all 7 or 8 of them have no idea what happened to him. Enrique wasn't exactly in top physical shape if he was recovering from surgery.

I linked the NPS map page on their site in a previous post. If you look at the map, it appears camping consists of tents only.

 

[CluelessWonder]

I don't think the vehicles belonged to his friends. I think the vehicles belonged to other campers. They raced on the beach, and Enrique was sitting in the sand when he was run over. This may have caused decapitation or the racers may have decided to "get rid of him." It's also possible that he was decapitated by a car bumper and then washed out with the tide.

 

[Curiosity1234]

Remains of Missing 82nd Airborne Paratrooper Found – Reward Offered :: WRAL.com
Army to help in search for soldier missing since Saturday
Search continues for soldier missing from Cape Lookout

911 call for Fort Bragg missing soldier Enrique Martinez released

Maps - Cape Lookout National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)

To Note
Based on links above:
•Friday, May 22: EM & 7 other soldiers arrived by ferry
•set up camp near mile 46 which is near the south end of the island (see map from link)
•around 12am: EM’s tent was knocked over due to wind; the group helped put it back up
•the group states this is the last time they saw him; he was wearing blue shorts & no shirt
•Sat May 23, morning: Group wakes up to find EM gone, leaving all his belongings behind (phone & wallet)
•Sat May 23, around 2:30pm: Rangers interact with the group (minus EM) about the manner of their vehicles parked. No mention of EM missing.
•Sat May 23, around 7:30pm: 911 call is made reporting EM missing; 17 hours have passed since last seen
•Officials requested that anyone seeing a Jeep followed by a truck traveling at a high rate of speed with two men hanging out the side (Fri or Sat) to contact LE.
•May 29: Partial remains confirmed to be EM was found near Cape Lookout National Seashore.


Questions I have:
•What time did the group come over with their vehicles on the ferry?
•Were the vehicles they group brought match the Jeep and truck referenced by officials? If not, can’t they look at video footage or paperwork (not sure how ferry works) to see who the two vehicles belong to?
•Why didn’t the group say anything to the rangers Sat afternoon when they were approached about their vehicle parking?
•What about his glasses? LE said his wallet & phone were left behind. Was he wearing them?
•Who took the picture of EM standing on the side of the vehicle?

Based on the linked info above, several things come to mind. Mere speculation; merely my opinion but I’m not sure what the rules are for posting it.

I don't think the vehicles belonged to his friends. I think the vehicles belonged to other campers. They raced on the beach, and Enrique was sitting in the sand when he was run over. This may have caused decapitation or the racers may have decided to "get rid of him." It's also possible that he was decapitated by a car bumper and then washed out with the tide.

He was last seen at say 12:10 am Saturday morning when the wind blew his tent over and his Army buddies helped him put his tent back up. They said he wasn't there in the morning and they never saw him after 12: 10 which means he got hit by a vehicle between say 12:45 and 9 am ?

 

[mlhenn]

He was last seen at say 12:10 am Saturday morning when the wind blew his tent over and his Army buddies helped him put his tent back up. They said he wasn't there in the morning and they never saw him after 12: 10 which means he got hit by a vehicle between say 12:45 and 9 am ?

In agreement with that..if looking at the vehicle theory & using info given by the group of friends, IMO an incident with vehicles & EM would not likely happen between midnight to 9.
If looking at the vehicle theory, the vehicles belonging to the friends is more likely. IMO

 

[Coffiecat]

*IMO* It sounds like a rowdy weekend, drinking and goofing.
EM was a little guy, but a paratrooper, makes me think alcohol and testosterone I'm thinking he fell off or was attempting to get from one vehicle to the other, something along those lines. Maybe even a game of chicken? Lots of accidents happen to young soldiers.

But, boats, sharks, and time in the water can all work toward dismemberment as well.

 

[mlhenn]

*IMO* It sounds like a rowdy weekend, drinking and goofing.
EM was a little guy, but a paratrooper, makes me think alcohol and testosterone I'm thinking he fell off or was attempting to get from one vehicle to the other, something along those lines. Maybe even a game of chicken? Lots of accidents happen to young soldiers.

But, boats, sharks, and time in the water can all work toward dismemberment as well.

Could be way off but I think the partial remains is the effect of the water like you said (sharks, boats, time)

 

[Curiosity1234]

In agreement with that..if looking at the vehicle theory & using info given by the group of friends, IMO an incident with vehicles & EM would not likely happen between midnight to 9.
If looking at the vehicle theory, the vehicles belonging to the friends is more likely. IMO

The vehicle incident could have happened on Friday but to cover themselves, his buddies claim he disappeared after say 12:30 Saturday morning but didn't report him being missing til Saturday night. That's a few people lying and covering up.

 

[Curiosity1234]

*IMO* It sounds like a rowdy weekend, drinking and goofing.
EM was a little guy, but a paratrooper, makes me think alcohol and testosterone I'm thinking he fell off or was attempting to get from one vehicle to the other, something along those lines. Maybe even a game of chicken? Lots of accidents happen to young soldiers.

But, boats, sharks, and time in the water can all work toward dismemberment as well.

I agree, it wasn't just a quiet relaxing camping weekénd.

 

[mlhenn]

The vehicle incident could have happened on Friday but to cover themselves, his buddies claim he disappeared after say 12:30 Saturday morning but didn't report him being missing til Saturday night. That's a few people lying and covering up.

That’s why I wish we knew what time the group came in on the ferry that Friday.

 

[Curiosity1234]

That’s why I wish we knew what time the group came in on the ferry that Friday.

Also when LE talked to them about their vehicles, probably not parked correctly because they have rules listed online for that; wouldn't LE have remembered that it was the jeep and blue truck violating the rules. I don't get why LE doesn't know who the jeep and truck belonged to.

 

[evilwise]

I take it to mean that the party has vehicles that match phoned in descriptions of vehicles being operated recklessly and law enforcement is looking for people to come forward with more detailed, sworn statements.

 

[mlhenn]

Agreed @evilwise

And the vehicle theory may not even be close to what happened. I just feel it has something to do with it. Regardless, something’s not right about the whole thing!

 

[CluelessWonder]

In my opinion, going to sleep at midnight is almost unheard of for young people camping on the beach on a holiday weekend. I was not aware of some of the information that someone posted above about his tent being knocked down. Do we know how many other campers were on the beach that weekend? Holidays bring out a lot of folks. So it could have been a busy time. We have beach-driving down here in Florida, and sometimes a car will drive over someone on the beach. People will be tanning on a towel and a car will drive over the top of them. I can imagine someone passed out in the sand.

 

[CluelessWonder]

In my opinion, going to sleep at midnight is almost unheard of for young people camping on the beach on a holiday weekend. But the sun and drinking could knock a person out, I suppose.

I was not aware of some of the information that someone posted above about his tent being knocked down.

Holidays bring out a lot of folks to parks and campgrounds. So it could have been a busy time. We have beach-driving down here in Florida, and sometimes a car will drive over someone on the beach. People will be lying or sitting on a towel or blanket and a car will drive over the top of them. I can imagine someone passed out in the sand late at night being in a very dangerous situation when there is beach driving. You would think that driving would not be permitted in camping areas, especially at night. Of course, that might not stop young people late at night. And remember that the cars were not parked where they should have been. I suspect that they were parked next to the tents on the beach. I mean, where else would you park if not in the designated area?

 

[mlhenn]

In my opinion, going to sleep at midnight is almost unheard of for young people camping on the beach on a holiday weekend. But the sun and drinking could knock a person out, I suppose.

I was not aware of some of the information that someone posted above about his tent being knocked down.

Holidays bring out a lot of folks to parks and campgrounds. So it could have been a busy time. We have beach-driving down here in Florida, and sometimes a car will drive over someone on the beach. People will be lying or sitting on a towel or blanket and a car will drive over the top of them. I can imagine someone passed out in the sand late at night being in a very dangerous situation when there is beach driving. You would think that driving would not be permitted in camping areas, especially at night. Of course, that might not stop young people late at night. And remember that the cars were not parked where they should have been. I suspect that they were parked next to the tents on the beach. I mean, where else would you park if not in the designated area?

https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/upload/camping2007.pdf

The above link gives in detail with photos illustrated the correct way to park, set up camping areas, & designated parking areas.

 

[mlhenn]

https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/upload/camping2007.pdf

Finding a Camping Spot:
Camping is permitted on all islands within Cape Lookout National Seashore; however, there are no designated campsites. Tent campers may set up among, but not on, the dunes just behind the ocean beach as well as on the sound-side of the island.
When selecting your beach campsite, there must be room enough at high tide for vehicles to drive by. If there isn’t enough room, you must find another campsite for the night.

Vehicle Parking Info:
Vehicles are allowed only on North and South Core Banks. All vehicles and trailers must remain on the ocean beach or within established areas signed for vehicle use.

 

[whtrabbit]

Most likely scenario is he was drunk, went for a swim at night or early morning, he drowned and/or a shark got him. There’s been 30+ shark attacks in NC in the past 10 years.

 

[CluelessWonder]

Most likely scenario is he was drunk, went for a swim at night or early morning, he drowned and/or a shark got him. There’s been 30+ shark attacks in NC in the past 10 years.

They have said that it was a homicide. I assume that to mean an intentional killing. I believe they have been able to distinguish marks on the body to be from something other than a shark bite. A shark bite probably would be easy to determine.

 

[Coffiecat]

I'd suspect a paratrooper would be competent at setting a tent well enough, and can't imagine needing a lot of help to put it back up if a wind caught it. Now, a Jeep or Ranger could knock one down pretty easily. Occupied or not. If his fellow campers had to wash said tent, before setting it up to dry, sending him out to sea...

 

[evilwise]

They have said that it was a homicide. I assume that to mean an intentional killing. I believe they have been able to distinguish marks on the body to be from something other than a shark bite. A shark bite probably would be easy to determine.

Homicide is a blanket term for when one person kills another. Intent can't usually be determined forensically but you can have unintentional killing that still is criminally negligent or reckless homicide, which I expect is the case here.

It hadn't even occurred to me but @Coffiecat is on the right track that the detail about his tent blowing over and the party helping him to set it back up is probably a key piece of their "story" for some reason, since it's established as being fabricated at least about their contact with rangers the next day.