Suicide or Murder? Three Years After the Death of Pfc. Lavena Johnson in Iraq, Her Parents...

Three years ago, on July 19, 2005, Army Private First Class Lavena Johnson, was found dead in Balad, Iraq. Her body was found in a tent belonging to the private military contractor KBR. She had abrasions all over her body, a broken nose, a black eye, burned hands, loose teeth, acid burns on her genitals, and a bullet hole in her head. The Army labeled Johnson’s death a suicide. But her parents never believed that story. They think she was raped and murdered and are now demanding a full congressional investigation into their daughter’s death. Army Private First Class Lavena Johnson would have turned 23 this month. But three years ago the African American teenager from Missouri was found dead in Balad, Iraq, just a few weeks short of her 20th birthday. Her body was found in a tent belonging to the private military contractor... [read full story]