Fort Bliss soldier, who has not been publicly identified, will be charged with sexual assault of fellow soldier later found dead

Asia Graham, a North Carolina native, reported on June 1 that she had been sexually assaulted by another soldier

The command launched an investigation that concluded on Dec. 1, when a top commander officially agreed with her

A month later, Graham, a human resource specialist, was found dead in her barracks in El Paso, Texas

Now, Gen. Sean Bernabe, commander of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, has ordered a military trial for the suspect

A private first class soldier at Fort Bliss will reportedly be charged with the sexual assault of a 19-year-old fellow soldier who was found dead on New Year’s Eve.
Asia Graham, a North Carolina native, reported on June 1 that she had been sexually assaulted by another soldier, launching an investigation that concluded on December 1, when a top commander officially agreed with her.
A month later, Graham, a human resource specialist, was found dead in her barracks in El Paso, Texas.
Now, Gen. Sean Bernabe, commander of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, has ordered a military trial for the suspect, who has not been publicly identified.

Graham, also a private first class, reported being sexually assaulted before she was found dead in her barracks on New Year’s Eve, according to her family members and Army officials as well.
She enlisted in the Army in July 2019 and arrived at Fort Bliss five months later after completing combat training in Missouri and South Carolina.
Graham’s family told media outlets she’d been sexually assaulted by another soldier shortly after arriving at Fort Bliss in December 2019 and reported it to her superiors.
The family has not been impressed by the response of command chain to Graham’s allegations before her death: “I was with the military life. I spoke very highly about the military,” her mother Nicole Graham told WBTV. “But in her situation, I think the leadership failed her.”
Military officials previously said they have ruled out foul play in Graham’s death

The suspect is expected to be arraigned and formally charged over the next week, Fort Bliss spokeswoman Lt. Col. Allie Payne said Saturday.
“The Iron Eagle team is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and teammate,” Col. Geoffrey Whittenberg, the brigade’s commander, said in a statement at the time of her death.
“Pfc. Graham was a valued member of the Iron Eagle team and did an outstanding job for this Battalion. Her loss is felt not just in our formations but across the Army. We lost a skilled human resource specialist who wanted nothing more than to serve her country and her battle buddies.”