LaVena Johnson's story. *spoiler* It was a military coverup.

[1truekhaleesi]

This story pisses me off and why I'll never join the Army, but let's get into it.

LaVena and her family grew up in Missouri. She was very smart and an honor roll student. She wanted to go to college but actually told her family right after high school, she wanted to join the military. This way, her college would be paid for. Her family didn't have a problem paying for her college, but she wanted to go out of state for college. Her dad was a veteran and she wanted to follow in his footsteps off and take initiative and be more independent.

Lets fast forward to 2005. LaVena was stationed in Iraq. She was a private first class in the United States Army. At this point, she had only been in Iraq for about two months. She would regularly call home and she called home often because she worked in the communications building. She would also write letters. She always sounded upbeat and positive in her letters. She never gave the impression that something was off. She did mention that she and the female soldiers felt disrespected. She said the male soldiers would call them a "sol." That is a slur that means half of a soldier.

LaVena and her father

On July 14, 2005 LaVena called home and told her dad about her day. She said she was locking up the communications building but the other soldiers weren't listening. They were just ignoring her and being disrespectful. The general showed up and ended up having to kick the soldiers out. The general didn't get upset at the soldiers but instead got upset at LaVena for not being stern enough. LaVena's dad got upset at the general, remember he is a veteran, and he felt the general shouldn't have spoken to LaVena that way given that she is a private. LaVena's dad told her that she needed to get a battle buddy.

A battle buddy is someone with you all the time and has your back all the time. She told her dad that she didn't feel comfortable asking for a battle buddy because she didn't want to ruffle any feathers or make it seem like she needed help. LaVena's father said he would give her time to step up and ask for a battle buddy or he'd do it himself. It later came up that perhaps the reason LaVena didn't want to speak up was because she had been recently sexually assaulted in the military and was being treated for an STD as a result from the assault. It's unknown who assaulted her. Her family didn't know at this time that she had been assaulted.

LaVena's family being presented with a flag. Pretty disrespectful given it was the military that covered up her death.

Something was obviously going on where she didn't feel the need to speak up and just wanted to lay low. Three days after talking with her dad about battle buddies, LaVena called home saying she might get to come home early and she'll be home around Christmas time. Unfortunately that was the last time her family spoke to her. A few days later, there was a knock on the door. It was a soldier who came to tell the family that LaVena had passed away. Her family is in complete shock. Her mother is inconsolable and her father wanted answers. The soldier slipped and said she committed suicide, he then attempted to backtrack.

Vanessa Guillen. Military tried to coverup her death from infamous Fort Hood.

LaVena's parents got a phone call the next day to better explain what happened. LaVena's father is more stoic and stone faced, he steps up to ask answers about what happened. Phone call said LaVena had a normal day at the communications building. She got off at about 4 to 5 pm and locked up the building. She then got in her physical traing clothes and went down to her physical training. LaVena never showed to her physical training so someone went looking for her. Eventually she was found in a contractors room, in a pool of blood with an arm covering her face. On her right side, is a pile of burned papers. On her left side is a green cot and on the other side of the cot, is a M16 rifle. Right away, I think if she killed herself, whats with the burned papers and why is her rifle so far away from her body? Before her body was sent home, the Army did an autopsy and her death was ruled a suicide.

The Army said she burned notes from her boyfriend who she had been dating for 6 months and shot herself with her own M16 in her mouth. The Army sid she killed herself because of issues her and boyfriend were having. The Army urged them to do a closed casket because her bosy was in such bad shape. Her parents went against that and did an open casket and I'm glad they did.

Right away, her father notices her face is in pristine condition. Also, her nose appeared to be broken and shifted, buthtat someone tried to pop it back in place. LaVena also had bruises and cuts on her face and lips. Her teeth had also been knocked loose. LaVena did have a small bullet wound on the left side of her head. LaVena is right handed. Also an M16 is huge. Her dad has experience with guns from his time in the military and he could tell right away that the gun used was a 9 mm. But wait there's more.

LaVena's family noticed that her gloves had been super glued to her hands. The funeral director said gluing gloves onto the hands isn't a thing. I think the gloves were glued on, so they couldn't get DNA from under her nails. Obviously this wasn't a suicide. One thing that bothers me is that a rape kit wasn't done. LaVena's family knows the Army won't give them answers so they hire a criminal investigator.

They finally receive documents and crime scene images but it's obvious the US military isn't cooperating. The Army sent the most grainy, xeroxed photos that all you can see is shadows. Documents confirmed that LaVena had no gunpowder residue on her hands, witness statements confirming she had been raped, and was being treated for an STD from her rapist. This is the first time her family heard she had been raped. In the documents there is a random paper of a xeroxed CD-rom. People speculate this was a mistake and someone was trying to give the family a hint.

Gregory Wedel-Morales. Another coverup from Fort Hood who is infamous for homicide coverups.

The Army fights them on this and says they must go to court for this CD-rom. The army says that there are other peoples names on the CD-rom and they have a right to privcy but that makes the family want it even more. Army tellls them to get a lawyer. Her family one upped them and went to a congresswoman for help. With the help of Congresswoman Lacey Clay it takes two years for them to get the CD-rom. It had the crime scene photos, LaVenas body when it was first found, LaVena's body before, during, and after the autopsy, all in color and good quality.

In the photos, you can see she had been hit with a blunt object in the face and her elbow was popped out of place. Her backside was covered in mud, dirt, and debris like she had been dragged. The photos also show a blood trail coming from her tent and burn marks on her hands, her back, and bruising on her stomach. That is not even the worst. Someone also poured acid on her genitals. Meanwhile the Army is like, Suicide. Case Closed.

But wait there's more. The CD-rom also confirmed LaVena's tongue, anus, and vagina had all been cut out and that wasn't reported on the autopsy report. LaVena had such a bright future and she only joined the Army to go to school. In return, she gets murdered and her family is called crazy and dismissed. Side note: I find it interesting that she was found covering her face. Of course she could've covered her face as she was being beat. Also, if someone close to her was responsible for her death, they would likely cover her face. Psychologically, they wouldn't be able to stand looking at her face as she lay there dead.

[Not_Average]

Why would an enlisted boot have such contact with a general? I’m a Marine Corps vet, and would never dream to have a conversation like that with a general lol. There’s something called Chain of Command.


Also, if that’s true, then she should be punished if her soldiers are not following her orders. She needs a stronger presence, because in combat, this is required. Life on the line if you possess an inability to carry a commanding presence when in charge.


You can most definitely kill yourself with an M16. It’s a large and heavy rifle, but it’s more than achievable.


Why was the man who sexually assaulted her “unknown”? That’s fishy to me. She was sexually assaulted but didn’t mention who did it to anymore before she died?


—-


The story sounds unlikely and untrue tbh. I skimmed through it, so maybe I missed some parts. There are just so many things conflicting. There would be so many things preventing this. It more than likely sounds like a typical military suicide. Couldn’t hack it, got in her head, and offed herself. People love conspiracy theories.

[1truekhaleesi]

I don't have the energy to argue with you and you're a gross person. That's why I never date military or police officers. Did she pour acid on her genitals and cut her own vagina and anus? An M16 would've blown her head off. And you protect our country? Wow I feel so safe.

[Not_Average]

I don’t understand why questioning the legitimacy of such far fetched claims is gross? If that’s legitimate, then that’s heinous, and an absolutely disgusting crime. I just see a lot of holes in this story, so it doesn’t seem legitimate to me. An M16 wouldn’t have blown her head off lol. It fires a 5.56 and while that’s a powerful round, it wouldn’t blow her entire head off.

[1truekhaleesi]

Clearly you didn't read the my take. Her face was in good condition and had a very small bullet hole. Why are you still talking? You clearly don't know enough about this to have an opinion.

[Not_Average]

Have you seen a 5.56 round before? Have you ever held an M16? How many mm was the hole? These are facts that matter. I've already stated that I skimmed through it. Based on what I read, there are some red flags with the legitimacy of this story.

Imagine if all of law enforcement operated with your guidelines of what's correct lol. They all believe everything they read and hear otherwise they're disgusting. That would wreak havoc man.

Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers so much. It was an honest and genuine observation to the information you've provided.

[Syrian_survivor]

@1truekhaleesi
The guy's just trying to make sense of the story, he's not talking shit about anyone, he's being logical about it and he's not even being insensitive or gross, I know the story is sad and infuriating, but control your temper and raging angry feelings when he's just asking logical questions, that's not doing anything wrong.

You're an adult, you should know better, try to talk more logically and don't let feelings get the best of you, it's immature and impulsive.
Arguments and questioning are completely valid things and you should do them too instead of assuming stuff online is completely true, the writer of the story could be lying as much as the rapists did, so I'm not on anybody's side.

Thank you, and think more critically.

[1truekhaleesi]

@Syrian_survivor I think the fuck not sir. He is being disrespectful. Its none of his damn business why she didn't report the rape. That pissed me off

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

@Not_Average It’s pretty clear anything contradicting OP’s contention there’s some heinous conspiracy and wholesale Army coverup behind Private Johnson’s death will meet with more emotive outbursts and ad hominem – despite having no knowledge of the military, CID crime and death scene processing, ballistics, forensic pathology procedures, how the military processes, ships and prepares remains, and the results of the psychological autopsy (which includes performance and counseling records, as well as leader and subordinate interview reports). Your assessment is correct and your questions are reasonable. And you are correct that general and flag officers would not be at that noise level – nor would it make any sense whatsoever that an E-2 fresh out of BCT and AIT would have “soldiers” or any kind of leadership responsibility and truth is, she had none. She was promoted to PFC posthumously, she didn’t have enough time in service for automatic advancement to E-3.

I was in Iraq, although not in Balad, a few months after Private Johnson’s suicide. Moreover, I’ve known the Johnson family (though not all of their six-pack of kids) since middle school; they lived across the street and two houses down in Florissant. My only concern at this point is for the family who has for years now received all of the information and no longer has any question or concerns about the (although getting ALL of the records from the Army took time and some wresting, especially the psych autopsy which is not normally releasable but was released as an exception).

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

As you and I are both fully aware, putting the muzzle of a rifle in one’s mouth and pulling the trigger is extremely easy to do. She shot herself with the rifle barrel slightly canted right with the bullet entering the hard palate right of center and stopping due to heavy bone mass behind her right eye. This is pretty common for the 5.56 ball round, as it travels at extremely high velocity but loses inertia and deforms quickly when it encounters heavy mass. Despite media claims, there was no exit wound. Death was not instantaneous and would have been quite painful, but fortunately she expired within 1-3 minutes of the gunshot. Another myth that got tacked on to the story was some claim that there was no expended cartridge casing found at the death scene; this is incorrect, as there was a single piece of 5.56 brass bearing the Lake City (LCAAP) headstamp found across the room, and it is so listed as item 3 on DA 4137 (Evidence Form) prepared at the death scene.

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

Spurious claims regarding “anomalies” on Johnson’s remains add fuel to the skeptics and this monster plot, but have no validity. As you know, preparation to autopsy human remains and conduct of the autopsy itself are pretty grisly. The remains were cleansed after undressing her, with photos taken each stage of the process, and what is being called “acid” on her genitals is nothing more than common antiseptic paste (orange when applied), some of which usually matts in pubic hair, the vulva, and anal region. As happens at onset of death, she had evacuated her bladder and bowels (clearly seen in the high-res photos from the death scene); antiseptic cleansing of these areas are SOP in military autopsies. Mr. Johnson’s cursory inspection of the remains upon arrival home had taken place well after the autopsy, transport of remains (during which they are refrigerated or, more often, iced), and preparation of remains at the mortuary center upon arrival in the US. Her remains were restored the best they could be, but they had bloated during transport. It never is a pretty sight, and this was no exception.

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

Like the shaggy dog story or telephone game, this story picked up new fabricated or misleading bits along the way, none of which would pass even the common sense test among those who have ever served in the military. What is missing is what is most revealing, but isn’t made public out of respect for the family (and the family knows all of the unflattering details). Private Johnson was miscast as a soldier in the Army, and with the omniscience of 20/20 hindsight should have been separated under the trainee discharge program and never deployed. I’m not going to trample on a dead woman’s grave or her memory, but suffice it to say she was not cut out to be a soldier and had a litany of issues. That does not make any death less tragic, to include hers, but it does put a lot of things in context.

It doesn’t mean the Army was without fault, and the biggest problem at the time was the manner in which death notifications were made. For starters, they weren’t often timely. While families rightly seek answers to their questions, the first reports that trickle in are often incorrect, or lacking completeness. It took months for the Pat Tillman family to learn he was killed by friendly fire in a violent firefight, not as the result of an enemy bullet. The Johnson suicide happened right around the same time. The Army has made improvements, but it will never be enough to satisfy everyone. Accurate and complete accounts take time and investigation, which doesn’t sit well in today’s society where everyone wants to know everything now. Again, Johnson’s NOK have all the details, flattering or not, and while it is probably not what they want to hear, the truth isn’t always easy to swallow. Private Johnson’s death was a suicide, and like all others, a tragedy. And if they’re at peace with it, I couldn’t care less what keyboard warriors think.

[Not_Average]

The mere fact that me questioning the legitimacy of the story because I see holes in it is disrespectful? Are you suggesting, that if someone doesn't think the exact same way you do about a particular situation- then they are disrespecting you? This is a newer phenomena within the younger generation, and I personally find it ridiculous and it clearly demonstrates a lack of emotional maturity.

It's clear that you're a democrat with an extreme bias against the military and law enforcement. I don't care if you wouldn't date any former military or cops. I'm happily married. That statement was completely uncalled for and rude. You making a mockery of my service is rude. When I was 19 years old, my best friend was blown up in Helmand province Afghanistan. We signed up to do the work that nobody else wanted to. I'm not asking for sympathy, but my god, don't make a mockery of some ones service because you disagree with such a minuscule opposition. What if that was your airmen brother? That's just down right childish and rude.

[Not_Average]

A recruit that I knew in my company during bootcamp killed himself when he got recycled back because he couldn't keep up and was getting chewed out everyday. Want to know what happened? Nasty and far fetched rumors all across MCRD and India company starting going around about his death that weren't even true. You know who this hurt the most? The family. This life experience is the reason as to why I questioned the legitimacy of this story. We all have different life experiences, and I personally welcome others to share theirs and the way they think. This is why I actively talked to my extremely liberal grandpa. This is why I sat down and have a conversation a kid with a BLM shirt even though I strongly oppose that organization. So if you open you mind a little to hear other people's side- you might learn a thing or two.

If you're this closed off towards peoples views, how will you even develop and learn as a human being? You made a post about how you were offended by people saying you're a hero because you're a nurse and chewed people out on the comments. You're acting absolutely ridiculous.

[Not_Average]

@LuvMeSomeBoys Thanks for sharing your story. I'll go ahead and read it all in the morning and reply then.

[1truekhaleesi]

Your personal experience doesn't discredit the fact that she was murdered. I ask again, did she pour acid on her own genitals then cut out her own anus and vagina?

[Waffles731]

With all the sexual assault revelations about the U. S U. S Military, sometimes I wonder if there is something my mom isn't telling me

[1truekhaleesi]

I feel the same about my brother who is in the Air Force.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Why do you say that? Is your mom in the military

[Waffles731]

@SuccessfulHornDog she was, both my Parent's are Ex-Air Force.
They met while stationed in Texas

[SuccessfulHornDog]

I'm curious why you think that she might be keeping something from you. Do you have reason to believe that something did happen and she's not telling you?

[Waffles731]

@SuccessfulHornDog because my mom has really refrained from talking about a good chunk of her past.

Hell I hadn't seen a picture of her in Uniform until last year

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Oh Wow. you're not kidding. Did she encourage you to go in or not go into the military or neither?

[Waffles731]

@SuccessfulHornDog neither, my brother is going in next year, he has been training and getting in the best shape he can get into because he is planning on trying to Pararescue and I am planning on trying to join the Massachusetts national guard after I finish losing all this weight, 1500 calories a day and intermittent fasting sucks but I've visibly lost weight already

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Glad to hear its working. Weightloss can be tough. Keep it up

[Mystic_Nova]

It's why I think women shouldn't join the military and such.

They love to preach how the army and such are United and fight for each other, yet they dont respect their female soliders. They are people are going through the same shit they are and are risking their lives just like the men. Calling women half soliders, raping them and not even listening to their orders. It has nothing to do with her presence, she can be as stern as she wants, she can't change her gender. Men are to disrespectful.

So, if they think men are so much better and can do a better job, then let them be the ones dying for the people they THINK they are protecting. And I say THINK because they dont even respect the people thay are fighting with them.

Why fight for a country, who soldiers and many citizens, think you dont belong there🤷‍♀️

[Apple1996]

The military loves covering shit up. Trust me I lived in fort hood for 3 years and there was so much that happened there that never ever made it to the news. It's really sickening some of the things I thought were just rumors that turned out to be true. There is a lot that civilians have no idea about so I get why they dont release more info.

[Oram52]

It is sickening it is years now we've been hearing about these revelations, and cover ups. Still nothing substantive is being done about this. These women are trying to serve their country and deserve better. Regrettably LaVena is not alone, its been happening for years. Its just covered up.

I hear things like oh just report it and it'll be dealt with? Everyone is to blame, military, politicians and us civilians. And its not just women just to clarify men have also suffered sexual violence and rape, though majority regrettably do tend to be women.

It needs to stop. Military needs to be held accountable, they are suppose to set better example for everyone else. These women are trying to serve their country, they deserve our respect and admiration.

[Chikky]

Wow, that's a terrible way to die tbh, I pray she finds rests and her killers killed that same way too. They all deserve her fate even much worse

[simplelikeme]

Regardless of what happened nobody should have ever died and everyone involved should be held accountable for this action.

[mrgspoter]

That's sad a hell, it's why I have problems with women being around dogs that's trained to kill and not care about it too much

[mrgspoter]

I wish men didn't allow outher guys to be this way how do they do it is beyond me. It's kind of obvious that guys like this will be in military but there should be enough decent men for this to not happen at all anywhere.

[jimmy2]

Wow i hope and pray this family make good policy changes in the Army

[Agape93]

Rest In Peace, lavena

[Dragonstarterplus]

Our Black women are soo marginalized it's sad

[maadison]

my heart breaks for shit like that.

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

Where did you get this info?

[1truekhaleesi]

The LaVena Johnson documentary.

[1truekhaleesi]

https://thehueandcry.com/lavena-johnson/

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

This is dated info. This story grew legs and added elements with each telling of it. The case has long been resolved to the satisfaction of the Johnson family, who live here in my hometown. Nobody else matters. Let’s let the family have some peace.

[1truekhaleesi]

How the fuck would you feel if this was your daughter? Don't act like you speak for the family members of people who've been murdered. Why did you care enough to comment then? Vanessa Guillén was a woman who was recently murdered by a fellow soldier and the military tried to cover it up. This is a pattern that keeps happening. My cousin was murdered by her husband and it was covered up by the police force. I still want answers for her death. I still want her ex husband to pay his debt to society for taking her away from us. Did she pour acid on her own genitals then cut out her own anus and vagina? Did she make the blood trail leading from her tent for attention?

[1truekhaleesi]

I ask again, did she pour acid on her own genitals then poured cut out her own vagina and anus? There's a clear pattern of murder happening in the military. You ignoring it won't make it go away

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

Those claims are so ridiculous they're not even plausible let alone true. The exhumation and examination of Private Johnson's remains at the family's request in 2017 debunks that nonsense. Despite two years of decomposition, her genitals and anus were intact and right where they were supposed to be. I'm sure there are some who would claim that the Army has a brigade of top secret battle moles that covertly dig into graves, burrow through burial vaults and into caskets, and replaces vaginas and anuses with new ones in a manner that can't be detected. And I'm sure there are some who believe the Army has a supply of spare vaginas and anuses on hand for this purpose. "Patterns" of murder rest in the mind of those who are married to the theory. If there's any "pattern" noticeable here, it is the predictable absurdity of keyboard warriors who don't know the difference between sensational tabloid fiction and real evidence.

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

*2007

[1truekhaleesi]

Believe what you want. Her genitals were certainly not intact and she clearly didn't die from a self inflicting gunshot to the face. The fact that you refuse to believe that, doesn't change things.

[LuvMeSomeBoys]

Spoken like a true conspiracy theorist who wouldn’t dream of letting a few pesky facts supported by evidence get in the way of a misguided theory.

[1truekhaleesi]

Whatever you say.