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20 Horrifying Facts About the Murders at Fort Bragg

Formerly known as Fort Bragg, Fort Liberty is a renowned military installation of the US Army in North Carolina. There are around 29,000 military personnel in Fort Bragg making it one of the largest military installations in the world.

Even though it is a location that is full of military personnel, crimes have never been on the low. Murders have been taking place in Fort Bragg with some being solved and others remaining to be unsolved.

There have been brutal murders in the locality which has brought more pressure to the military, but no answers have been given to some inquiries and follow-ups. The murders of 37-year-old William Lavigne and 44-year-old Timothy Dumas were in the spotlight as they were linked to some illegal activities.

 Here are 20 Horrifying Facts About the Murders at Fort Bragg:

1. At Least 40 Soldiers Have Been Murdered in Port Bragg

Being a military location, many people have never expected serious crimes like homicide to take place there. However, the numbers of deaths that have taken place in Fort Bragg are shocking. At least forty soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg have died by either homicide or suicide. The numbers are higher than any other military installations in the United States.

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2. The Discovery of the Bodies of William & Timothy by a Deer Hunter

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Three weeks before Christmas of 2021, in the Piney Woods outside Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a deer hunter discovered the remains of a firefight that no one has been able to explain. A modified Chevrolet Colorado with matte-black wheels and racing tires became caught in a rut on a rural road near Lake MacArthur. The hunter discovered two dead bodies in the truck鈥檚 bed and on the ground near it.

Both were murdered by gunshots, and shell casings were found on the ground, according to press reports. However, no firearms were discovered at the scene, nor was there any sign of the third man, the surviving shooter. At least one must have existed.

3. Timothy had been Killed by a Single Bullet to His Right Temple

The manner in which the men had been killed was so disturbing. 44-year-old Timothy Dumas was killed by a single bullet into his right temple.

He used to think that he was an ex-commando of how he carried himself. Timothy used to intimidate people even though he had served in the Army for 19 years as a supply sergeant.

4. William was a Decorated Green Beret Officer with Multiple Decoration

In contrast to Timothy, the man in the truck bed didn鈥檛 have to exaggerate his military credentials. He was not only a distinguished Green Beret with scores of badges, patches, and medals from 14 previous deployments, but he was also a member of Delta Force, the United States鈥� most elite military organization.

William 鈥淏illy鈥� Lavigne II, 37, was a real Tier 1 operator, a master sergeant on the Army鈥檚 most elite and covert task force. In addition to the standard training that all Rangers, Green Berets, and Navy SEALs receive, he had been trained in sabotage, demolition, hostage rescue, tactical driving, lockpicking, and spy-trade skills like how to shadow individuals, employ dead drops, and live undercover.

5. William was Shot Multiple Times while He was Asleep

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The military decoration that William had left many shocked at how he could have been murdered without fighting back. It seemed like he had been killed in his sleep as he was wearing his skimpy runny shorts.

William had been shot multiple times in his chest. He was also wrapped in a nylon blanket known as a woobie by the soldiers. His body was placed in the back of his truck where they were discovered.

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6. The Double Homicide was Linked to a Drug Deal Gone Wrong

There were multiple questions on the reasons that led to the murders of the two men. It was believed that the double homicide was linked to narcotics even though there were no signs of narcotics found at the scene. William was well-known for snorting cocaine, taking MDMA, pooped pills as well as he drunk heavily.

Hours after the discovery of the two bodies, some important information was leaked to CBS. Timothy and William were under investigation for narcotics trafficking on Fort Bragg. Investigators believed that the murders were linked to a drug deal gone wrong.

7. William had Shot & Killed His Best Friend In a Drug-Related Incident

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William had shot and killed his best friend, a Green Beret called Mark Leshikar, in a strange, drug-fuelled altercation that only two young girls witnessed in 2018. He was taken to the station by Sheriff鈥檚 deputies, but he was never arrested or charged with a crime.

Some of his Delta Force colleagues drove him home that night. 鈥淭hey are a very hush-hush community,鈥� stated Diane Ballard, a police investigator in Vass, where many Delta Force operatives, both active and retired, own homes. 鈥淭hey are free to do whatever they want.鈥�

8. A Decomposing Body of a 19-year-old was Discovered in His Bunk

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The murders at Fort Bragg did not begin soon as many might think. It is believed that the murders began in January 2020.

During this time, the body of a 19-year-old Texan was discovered in his bunk. The found body was in a devastating state as it was decomposing. His cause of death has never been revealed with investigations going on this recently.

9. A Combat Medic was Frequently Involved in Assaulting His Wife

In 2016, a 31-year-old combat medic, Keith Lewis was supposed to be expelled from the Army. He was involved in assaulting his wife on multiple occasions. After the assault, Keith got himself into an armed standoff with the Fayetteville police.

Keith鈥檚 mom, Lynda Lewis stated, 鈥淗e called me and said, 鈥楳om, I鈥檝e got a gun to my head. I hurt Sarah, and my career is ruined.鈥� I talked to him for a long time. He finally put the gun down. There were no real repercussions.鈥�

10. Keith鈥檚 Wife Feared for Her Life But No Action was Taken

Keith鈥檚 wife, Sarah Lewis who was an Air Force veteran, was expecting their child. However, she used to undergo lots of horrible things in her marriage.

Keith鈥檚 mother revealed that Sarah had made two complaints in 2020 about her husband. She had reported him to his unit and informed them that she feared for her safety.

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11. Keith Followed His Wife to their Neighbours Home & Shot Her Dead

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On 22nd December after her pleas for her life were not heard, Sarah was brutally murdered. After a misunderstanding at their home, Sarah rushed to their neighbor鈥檚 home after dialing 911.

Keith followed her while carrying their 3-year-old daughter in his arms and a gun in the other. Keith opened fire on his wife as she tried to pound on the neighbor鈥檚 door. She tried to hide behind the car, but she was killed.

12. Their Baby was Born after Sarah was Shot Dead

The multiple shots that Keith aimed at Sarah were so devastating that left her dead. She lay on the ground dying and her baby girl was born. However, the newborn baby did not survive. Their three-year-old daughter managed to get away from Keith and dashed to the police who had responded.

13. Keith Murdered Himself with a Single Shot in His Head

Several police officers had responded to the distress call by Sarah before she was murdered. Arriving at the scene, Sarah had been killed by Keith from the multiple shots. As the police pointed their guns at Keith ordering him to surrender and put his gun down, he did the unthinkable. He pointed his gun at his head and took his life.

14. Another Army Captain was Accused of Murdering His Pregnant Wife & 2 Daughter

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In August 1970, another army captain shocked people by what he did. Jeffery Robert McDonald, a former medical doctor and US Army captain took the lives of his loved ones. He is believed to have murdered his pregnant wife and their two daughters.

15. Jeffrey Had Made Distress 911 Calls in the Wee Hours of the Night

On February 17, 1970, at 3:42 a.m., Fort Bragg dispatchers got an emergency phone call from MacDonald, who barely spoke into the receiver: 鈥淗elp! Castle Drive, number 54! Five forty-four Castle Drive! Stabbing! Stabbing! Hurry!鈥� The operator then heard the receiver clatter against a wall or the floor.

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16. Pregnant Colette had Been Clubbed all over Her Body

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Police officers responded to the distress calls and arrived at a shocking scene. Colette MacDonald was discovered sprawled on the master bedroom floor.

She was lying on her back, one eye open, and one breast exposed. She had been clubbed all over her body, and both of her forearms were later discovered to be fractured. The pathologist would note that these cuts were most likely caused by Colette raising her arms to shield her face.

17. She Had Been Stabbed 37 Times

Other than the clubbing all over her body, Colette must have suffered a lot during the attack. She had a total of 37 stabs in her body. Colette had Been stabbed 21 times in her chest with an ice pick.

She also had 16 stabs in the neck and chest with a chest. Her trachea was severed in two places. Torn and bloodied pajama top was draped on her chest and the weapons used by her side.

18. Jeffery Was Injured but Alive

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Jeffrey MacDonald was discovered beside her, face-down, alive but injured, with his head on Colette鈥檚 chest and one arm around her neck. As military personnel approached, he said quietly, 鈥淐heck my kids! I heard my children crying!鈥�

19. The Eldest Daughter was Brutally Murder with Vicious Blows

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Kimberley, five, was discovered in her bed, having been bludgeoned about the head and body and stabbed in the neck eight to ten times with a knife. She was lying on her left side.

At least two hits to the right side of her head had fractured her skull, and one gash to her face had caused her cheekbone to protrude through her skin. The wounds inflicted on Kimberley鈥檚 skull were serious enough to cause brain damage, coma, and death shortly after infliction.

20. 2-year-old Kristen Had Been Stabbed 48 Times

Kristen, a 2-year-old was discovered in her own bed, also laying on her left side, with a baby bottle close to her mouth. She had been stabbed 33 times with a knife and 15 times with an ice pick across her chest, neck, hands, and back.

The ice pick incisions were superficial, and two knife wounds had pierced her heart. Her hand injuries were most likely defense wounds. The word 鈥淧IG鈥� was written in eight-inch capital letters on the headboard of the MacDonalds鈥� marital bed. The blood used to write this word was later discovered to be Colette鈥檚.

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