With his red hair, freckles and sunny disposition, everyone at home knew Hayden Harris as Opie.
The kid from rural Tennessee was affectionate, thoughtful – a good Christian boy, said Claire Hallissy, a family friend. He had an infectious smile and one passion in life: to join the U.S. Army.
For the 20-year-old, that dream came to a mysterious end last weekend in the snowy woods of Sussex County, 1,000 miles from his hometown in Guys, Tennessee, and 300 more from Fort Drum, New York, where he d been stationed since July 2019. A week after Harris body was found, officials still haven t explained a motive for the alleged killing or why the soldier ended up buried near a secluded cul-de-sac in Byram Township.
Vigil held in Thompson Park to remember the life of CPL Hayden Harris
Vigil held in Thompson Park to remember the life of CPL Hayden Harris By Ashley Seybolt, John Pirsos, and 7 News Staff | December 23, 2020 at 6:50 PM EST - Updated December 24 at 7:29 AM
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - “We’re celebrating his life tonight. That’s what we’re going to do. Even though it was a short life, we’re celebrating his life tonight,” said Pastor Jeffrey Smith of the First Baptist Church.
A large group gathered at the Tenth Mountain Division Monument at Thompson Park Wednesday night.
The focus: Corporal Hayden Harris. The 20-year-old Fort Drum soldier, and Tennessee native, who was killed in New Jersey over the weekend. Several people spoke to honor his life, including a fellow soldier:
Soldier found dead in New Jersey
A U.S. Army soldier is accused of killing a colleague who was found shot to death in Sussex County, New Jersey after he went missing from a base in upstate New York.
Corporal Hayden Harris, an infantryman from 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, went missing Thursday night.
Harris, a 20-year-old soldier from Guys, Tennessee, was reported missing from Fort Drum.
His body was found shot to death in New Jersey, said Monday and authorities are holding a U.S. Army soldier in connection with his death.
Soldier held in death of missing Fort Drum corporal found fatally shot The Associated Press Cpl. Hayden Harris, of Guys, Tenn. (U.S. Army via AP) BYRAM, N.J. Authorities on Monday were holding a U.S. Army soldier in the death of a fellow soldier from Tennessee who was found shot to death in New Jersey after he was missing from a base in upstate New York. Authorities found the body of Cpl. Hayden Harris, 20, in a wooded area of Byram Township, New Jersey, on Saturday. The resident of Guys, Tennessee, was last heard from Thursday night after he headed from Fort Drum to Watertown, New York, for a vehicle transaction, the Army said.
Nation
Associated Press
BYRAM, N.J. – Authorities on Monday were holding a U.S. Army soldier in the death of a fellow soldier from Tennessee who was found shot to death in New Jersey after he was missing from a base in upstate New York.
Authorities found the body of Cpl. Hayden Harris, 20, in a wooded area of Byram Township, New Jersey, on Saturday. The resident of Guys, Tennessee, was last heard from Thursday night after he headed from Fort Drum to Watertown, New York, for a vehicle transaction, the Army said.
Harris was meeting fellow soldier, Jamaal Mellish, for “some type of vehicle exchange,” First Assistant Sussex County Prosecutor Gregory Mueller said. Authorities believe Mellish “abducted” Harris and killed him, Mueller said.