Fort Drum Specialist Hayden Allen Harris, 20, was confirmed dead on Sunday, Dec. 20. Source: Fort Drum
Dec 21, 2020
This story has been updated with new details at 12:17 p.m.:
A fellow soldier from Fort Drum is in custody over the death of a missing army specialist whose body was found on Sunday in rural Sussex County, New Jersey.
Corporal Hayden Allen Harris, 20, had been missing since Thursday after arranging to meet someone for a vehicle transaction in Watertown.
According to the New York Times, Private Jamaal Mellish, 23, was arrested in Jefferson County over the weekend in connection with the death.
Mellish was expected to be charged with murder, kidnapping and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, and will be extradited to New Jersey, according to a Sussex County prosecutor.
Monday, December 21, 2020 - 6:07 am
WATERTOWN A Fort Drum Soldier who recently went missing has been reportedly found deceased.
Specialist Hayden Allen Harris, 20, was reportedly last heard from between 8 p.m., Dec. 17 and 6:30 a.m. Dec. 18, according to Julie Halpin, director, Fort Drum Public Affairs.
Harris was allegedly meeting someone in Watertown for some type of vehicle transaction. The 2016 Ford Mustang Coupe he was reportedly driving has been accounted for.
According to law enforcement officials, foul play is suspected.
Harris was assigned to C Troop, 1-89 Calvary, Fort Drum.
“We are working very closely with several law enforcement agencies, to include Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Sussex County Prosecutors Office, and the Bryam Township Police Department on this investigation. We greatly appreciate their work on this ongoing case, said Chris Grey, spokesman for Army CID.
Missing Fort Drum Soldier Is Found Dead in New Jersey
A dispute over a car swap appeared to have played a role in the killing of Cpl. Hayden Allen Harris. A fellow soldier was expected to be charged in connection with his death, the authorities said.
Cpl. Hayden Allen Harris was found dead in Sussex County, N.J., on Saturday, days after he was last seen near Fort Drum, N.Y.Credit.U.S. Army
Dec. 20, 2020
Two Fort Drum soldiers’ plans to exchange cars late last week ended with one soldier dead in a remote part of New Jersey and the other arrested and expected to face murder and kidnapping charges, officials said.
Body of Missing Fort Drum Soldier Found, Foul Play Suspected
The body of a missingsoldier from the Fort Drum military base in upstate New York has been found in a remote area of New Jersey, and foul play is suspected, the US Army’s Criminal Investigation Command said in a release Sunday.
Cpl. Hayden Allen Harris, 20, who was last heard from between 8 p.m. on Thursday and 6:30 a.m. on Friday in upstate New York, was meeting someone in Watertown “for some type of vehicle transaction” at the time of his disappearance, according to Army CID.
“According to law enforcement officials, foul play is suspected,” the statement said.
Missing Fort Drum soldier, 23, is found shot dead after being kidnapped by fellow soldier, 20, and driven 270 miles from New York to New Jersey following argument over a pickup truck
Missing Fort Drum soldier Cpl. Hayden Harris, 20, was found dead on Saturday suffering a gunshot wound in Byram Township, New Jersey
He was last heard from late Thursday into early Friday after he left Fort Drum for Watertown, New York for a vehicle transaction
Soldier Jamaal Mellish, 23, who he was slated to meet, was arrested in his death
The two soldiers had met to discuss a disagreement over a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck