Erin – Page 8 – Conduct Unbecoming

007 US v. Wilson

It may sound like the Marine Corps has a lot of people in it – at just over 170,000 active duty Marines. But the reality is that if you stay in long enough, you really do run into the same people over and over again. And with the constant moves and the challenges that come with temporary living, you often rely on the kindness of strangers… and friends. But when is someone a little too close to your family? The Wilson family took a subordinate’s family under their wing – they offered them a space to do their laundry and engage socially. But, as one child alleged, all of this came at a cost. According to this family, Colonel Wilson not only abused their trust, but he also abused their six-year-old.

I relied on the court opinion:
NMCCA

And referenced articles from Newsweek, Marine Corps Times (1)(2)(3), ABC (1)(2), The Daily Beast, Military.com, and Stripes.

The 2019 UCMJ and 2021 NDAA are also available.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

One last update from this case: the “Pointer” family dropped the lawsuit against the United States Marine Corps they originally filed in 2018.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com

Disclaimer: I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I’m a practicing attorney, I don’t do direct criminal defense. I am an avid true crime listener and realized there was a gap in coverage of these sorts of crimes; this podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinions. Opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are not endorsed by the DOD or any members of the military.

006 US v. Irvin

A young man struggled to put together a plausible defense to allegations against him in the death of his young love. He told investigators repeatedly that he didn’t know what happened… that when he’d gone to bed, she was alive but… when he awoke, he found her dead – unresponsive and cold. This is a summary of The Invisible Guest, a movie Timothy Irvin recommended on social media in January of this year.

Perhaps it felt familiar to Irvin, a Marine who struggled to explain the suspicious death of his 19 year old wife. In 2015, Irvin told investigators on Okinawa that he awoke to his wife, unresponsive and cold. He said he loved her. He said he missed her.

He also said he held his hand over her mouth until she went limp.

I relied on the court opinions from the Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals: (1)(2)

And referenced a number of articles: Stripes (1)(2), Military.com (1)(2), Athletic.net, Forrest Funeral Home, VA.gov, TASAnet.com.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-SAFE) to find resources and support in your area. Additional resources, by state, are available on womenshealth.gov.

If you are currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan, please visit the MCCS Domestic Abuse page.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

005 NC v. Hennis

Despite all the uncertainties that come with being in a military family there are some things that stay refreshingly the same. A permanent change of duty station will always be challenging, another spouse will always be trying to sell you a product, and you generally trust the other military families who live around you. Timothy Hennis abused that trust and leveraged it to commit murder… murder that he got away with for nearly 25 years.

I relied on the court opinion from the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces: CAAF

And referenced a number of articles. Wikipedia, The New Yorker, CNN, ABC News (1)(2), Army Times, Fox, Fay Observer, DD 214 statistics, Veterans Aid Benefits.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

004 US v. Darnall

We’ve all heard the stories of sailors using the stars to navigate their ships to distant shores – establishing trade routes, discovering new lands, and returning safely home, hopefully without scurvy. Continuing that proud tradition, Brandon Darnall, a Navy Sailor, set up a trade network of “spice” from a foreign land under the brilliant night sky of the California high desert. But this spice wasn’t cinnamon or ginger – it was methylone, an analogue of ecstasy.

I relied on the court opinions:
NMCCA // CAAF

And referenced this DOD information.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

003 US v. Turner

As 2014 wound down, the Turner family spent their holidays like millions of other folks in the United States – they spent time with loved ones and celebrated the festivities. They took the time to make the long drive from Colorado Springs down to Georgia and then up to Tennessee, to visit with those who had profound impacts upon their lives. But, on New Year’s Day, while the rest of the world made resolutions and committed to being better versions of themselves in 2015, Malcolm and Annelyntherese Turner devolved into the worst versions of themselves and tried their hands at murder.

I relied heavily on the court opinions for my research:
ACCA
CAAF

I also referenced articles from:

The Leaf Chronicle (1)(2)(3)(4)
Military Times
Army Times

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review it wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com

Disclaimer: I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I’m a practicing attorney, I don’t do direct criminal defense. I am an avid true crime listener and realized there was a gap in coverage of these sorts of crimes; this podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinions.

002 US v. Day

In 2019, the command at Barksdale Air Force Base was in crisis. Over the course of the prior 12 months, they dealt with five homicides connected to the base. This doesn’t even include the case we covered in our first episode, United States v. Edwards, who was also convicted of murder at Barksdale Air Force Base. The pace of killing seemed to be picking up and the base commander expressed that he was “deeply concerned for the safety of the military members and their families assigned to Barksdale.” But Katelyn Day, an Airman First Class, had her own ticking time clock pushing the pace for the murder of her husband.

I relied heavily on the court opinions for my research:
AFCCA
CAAF
Appellant Brief

I also referenced articles from:
The Daily Beast
Task and Purpose
Yahoo
KTAL News

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

001 US v. Edwards

In the dark, early morning hours of March 27th, 2018, Airman First Class Isaiah Edwards rose from his bed, flicked on the lights, and brutally murdered his roommate.

I relied heavily on the court opinions for my research:
AFCCA
AFCCA Resentencing
CAAF

I also referenced articles from:
Shreveport Times (1) and (2)
Courier Journal
Stripes

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google

Conduct Unbecoming: a military true crime podcast

Join me every other week as I detail the crimes committed by members of the U.S. armed services.