Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

More Charges on Seaman August Provost's Murder, Possible Motive in Sailor Suspect's "Crime Spree"

The Navy has filed a laundry list of violations against the sailor charged in the brutal shooting murder of Boatswain’s Mate Seaman August Provost, the black gay sailor killed while on duty at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th. The alleged crime spree reportedly committed Petty Officer Jonathan C. Campos—including murder, solicitation off murder, drugs and weapons violations—reads like the sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Natural Born Killers. The Navy Compass:

Charges preferred include alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military’s governing law code, over a period from May 1 to July 1 including: murder of Boatswain’s Mate Seaman August Provost III by shooting him with a pistol; use of illegal psilocybin mushrooms; breaking and entering into a private residence, and stealing electronic equipment, jewelry and a .45 caliber pistol; driving under the influence of alcohol; attempt to commit arson; wrongful possession of firearms; unlawful entry; unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon; stealing military property; arson; unlawful handling of a deceased individual; solicitation of a civilian to murder another Navy sailor, a Master at Arms assigned to ACU FIVE and to vandalize the sailor’s house; and unauthorized absence.

The 29-year-old Provost's body was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, reportedly bound, and his body burned. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black.

The Navy maintains this was not a hate crime and offers an alternative motive that dovetails previous Rod 2.0 reports: Provost was allegedly killed when a fellow servicemember, intent upon vandalizing a hovercraft,  tried to "rush" the guard shack. Authorities now reveal the 32-year-old suspect also knew Provost and served in the same unit—Assault Craft Unit FIVE—and was about to reprimanded for DUI. Campos has been in custody three weeks and military brass initially said this was a "random" act of violence.

The big question: How well Provost know Campos? Is the petty officer accused in this drug- and alcohol-fueled crime spree the "emotionally disturbed" and "deeply closeted" fellow sailor that allegedly feared being outed and threatened Provost? How and why are United States military personnel AWOL for weeks and soliciting the murders of civilians?

Thanks AUTUMN SANDEEN at PHB

Navy: "No Time Limit" on August Provost Investigation, "Person of Interest" Can Be Held Indefinitely

New developments in the brutal killing of Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found murdered at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th. Three weeks after the Navy seaman was found shot to death and his body burned, the Navy still has not decided if the case is "serious enough" to go before the military equivalent of a grand jury.

Navy Region Southwest spokesman Matt Brown tells KPBS-TV "there’s no time limit" on the investigation which remains under the authority of Provost's former commander—not the Pentagon.

“The commander of Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU 5) will determine, based on the information provided by investigators, if this is a case that perhaps should be considered by a higher level review, such as a general court martial,” says Brown.

A suspect is being held in the brig on Camp Pendleton. Brown says under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, he can be held indefinitely, as long as investigators can show a military judge they are aggressively pursuing the case.

The 29-year-old Provost's body was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. The seaman told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. The Navy says the torture, shooting and burning was not related to the victim's sexuality and was a "random act" of violence. Over the weekend, the late sailor's aunt advanced a new theory, that her nephew’s killer is gay and feared being outed by Provost.

Several congressmen, including San Diego's Bob Filner (D), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Sheila Jackson-Lee, who represents the family, want independent investigations.

If there is "no time limit" on the investigation and the "person of interest" can be held without charges "indefinitely", will we ever learn who killed August Provost and why? And if the shooting, torture and burning of a United States Seaman is not "serious enough" for a general court martial, what is?

Thanks REP. JACKSON LEE's OFFICE!

Did a Closeted Gay Sailor Kill Seaman August Provost?

Was an emotionally disturbed and deeply closeted gay sailor behind the brutal killing of Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found murdered at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th? The slain sailor's aunt comes forward and says her nephew’s killer is gay and feared being outed by Provost, reports the Dallas Voice.

Rose Roy, of Beaumont, the sister of Provost’s father, said in a phone interview Tuesday, July 14 that she’s “not at liberty” to identify the source who provided the information to the family. But Roy said the source told the family Provost had a heated argument with the suspect a week before his murder, and that the sailor now being held as a person of interest by the Navy has a history of mental illness.

"This guy went the extra mile to make sure that my nephew would never be able to speak about his [the killer’s] sexuality," Roy said. "My nephew died for reasons other than what the military is saying."

Neither Provost’s other family members nor his partner, identified as Kaether Cordero of Houston, could be reached for comment this week.

The person of interest being held identified by the Navy and has not yet been charged with any crime.

The new theory departs from previous claims made by Rose Roy and other family members that Provost’s murder was an anti-gay hate crime. Provost reportedly told numerous family members he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. Under the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, if Provost reported the homophobic harassment, that would have been considered "telling" and lead to immediate discharge,

The 29-year-old Provost was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. The Navy says the torture, shooting and burning was not related to the victim's sexuality and was a "random act" of violence. The Navy reportedly did not initially tell the family this was a homicide and neglected to reveal the manner of death.

The military "investigation" raises more questions than answers, says Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Filner tells the Dallas Voice: "They keep saying they know it’s not a hate crime, but they don’t give me enough information for me to agree with that or not. If they don’t do it right, we will have an independent congressional inquiry."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee—who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign—represents Houston and Provost's family.  Jackson Lee says she will demand a congressional inquiry into the case. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and the National Black Justice Coalition and are also monitoring the case.

Under military rules, the person of interest can be held without charges indefinitely. Will we ever learn who killed August Provost and why?

Report: Secy of Navy Investigating Murder of Seaman August Provost

There are new developments in the investigation into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor from Houston brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. Sources close to the investigation report the Secretary of the Navy has dispatched an investigative team to Pendleton. Also, extremely disturbing  and graphic details have emerged of the so-called "random" act of violence.

The official request for an investigation of the August Provost murder was made by San Diego's Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis, the Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. The source says Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus "has sent 20 investigators to Camp Pendleton."

The 29-year-old sailor was found brutally murdered in a guard shack at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on June 30. Provost was shot three times and the structure was burned. Although the Navy has denied specific reports made to Rod 2.0 in a recent article at TIME.com, and claimed Seaman Provost was not tortured, relatives say they were told Provost's "hands and feet were tied, he was gagged, shot three times and his body had been set on fire."

Rose Roy, Provost's aunt who lives outside Houston, said "Provost spoke with her about being harassed and ostracized at Camp Pendleton because he was gay and black." The Navy maintains there is "no evidence" to suggest that this was a hate crime and insists it was "random act" of violence.

Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban Chula Vista, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate, too, and asked the Defense Department and Marine Corps to determine whether the killing was a hate crime. Filner added: "There's some disturbing elements to this. He was harassed in the days leading up to this."

One "person of interest" remains in custody. Two others are being sought. No formal charges are filed yet.

Roy says it was about a year ago when her nephew told her and his superiors he was being harassed because he was black and gay. San Diego City Commissioner Stampp Corbin, who also is black and gay, has been closely following the investigation and says Provost's lack of recourse is a direct result of the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Commissioner Corbin tells Rod 2.0: "August Provost, and others like him, are often harassed because of the perception they are gay or lesbian, not because of homosexual conduct. If August reported the harassment, would that have been "telling" and therefore lead to a discharge? That is the quandary gay and lesbian military personnel face in these situations."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, who represents Houston, says she will demand a congressional inquiry into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III. Provost will be buried tomorrow at Veterans Memorial Cemetery. A candlelight vigil will also take place on Friday at 7:30 pm outside Camp Pendelton.

Navy: There is "No Evidence to Suspect Hate Crime" in Torture and Killing of Black, Gay Sailor

And so it begins. Despite reporting anti-gay harassment for at least one year before his death, and ultimately being tortured and killed in a horrific manner, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service says the brutal killing of U.S. Navy Seaman August Provost III at Camp Pendleton was "a random act unrelated to the his sexuality."

"There is no evidence or information that suggests this is a hate crime," Capt. Matt Brown, director of public affairs for Navy Region Southwest, tells the UPI. "The military also couldn't confirm that Seaman August Provost was harassed in the days before he was killed, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported."

The family is outraged and says otherwise. Provost's sister says family members advised Provost—who had a boyfriend and was open about his sexuality on Facebook and MySpace—to "tell his supervisor" about the repeated homophobic harassment. And more confirmation plus chilling details in the Houston Chronicle: "Rose Roy of Beaumont said her nephew had complained a year before about being harassed for being gay. The Houston native was found dead Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. Roy said the family was told that Provost was shot three times, had his hands and feet bound, his mouth gagged, and body burned."

Meanwhile, the political fallout begins. Democratic Rep. Bob Filner of suburban San Diego wants the Defense Department and Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of the sailor was a hate crime. The powerful Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman will also hold hearings because he was at Pendleton "for over 5 hours the day of the murder and no one in the Navy thought it was important enough" to tell him, says San Diego Commissioner Stampp Corbin in a scathing op-ed. Corbin, who also is black and gay, slams anti-gay Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray, whose district includes Camp Pendleton, as "missing in action."

Corbin writes at SDNN: "Bilbray has not been a friend to the LGBT community and I have to wonder if his silence has to do with Provost being a gay sailor. I cannot imagine Bilbray ignoring the murder on the base for any other reason. The murder has taken place within Bilbray’s district, he is an avid supporter of the military, but he has said nothing, absolutely nothing about the Provost incident. Bilbray is also a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. So Bilbray is a murder at Camp Pendleton unimportant because you don’t like the victim? Are you embarrassed that your support of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell creates a situation where gays and lesbians in the military, like Provost, may be hesitant to tell superiors of harassment because that would be 'telling?'"

NCIS has released the one person held and another "person of interest" is reportedly in custody. When will Naval Investigators charge someone with this brutal homicide? And how much longer will the military continue to pretend torture, shootings and firebombings are routine and "random acts" on United States military installations?

Related ...
Black Gay Sailor Killed, Hate Crime Suspected [R20]
Congressman Wants Investigation into Sailor Murder [R20]

Congressman Wants Investigation into Murder of Black Gay Sailor

Very disturbing developments in the case of August Provost, the 29-year-old black gay sailor found dead at Camp Pendleton. A Southern California congressman confirms the deceased was gay and killed in a horrific manner, and is calling for congressional and Defense Department investigations.

The body of the Houston seaman was discovered in a guard shack at about 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. The autopsy was concluded today but the initial indications are that Provost was shot and his body burned, the Los Angeles Times reports, quoting Rep. Bob Filner of suburban San Diego. Filner asked the U.S. Department of Defense and the Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of the sailor was a hate crime. Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, wants "a complete investigation of circumstances" surrounding the death of the sailor and says his committee will also hold hearings.

A "person of interest" continues to be held in the Navy brig at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. No charges have been filed.

Provost's boyfriend, Kaether Cordero, tells the Union-Tribune that Provost was openly gay. "People who he was friends with, I knew that they knew. He didn't care that they knew. He trusted them." As Rod 2.0 broke last night, Provost recently complained to family that he was being harassed by fellow servicemen. The newspaper confirms this: "They advised him to tell his supervisor, said his sister, Akalia. 'He's the type that if someone comes at him, he walks away. He never stands and argues,' she said. 'He didn't deserve anything but a good life.'"

The homicide of August Provost III came on the same day Defense Secretary Robert Gates claimed the Pentagon hoped to make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" investigations—and attitudes toward gay and lesbian servicemembers—more "humane." How many more brave gay men and lesbians need to be attacked or killed before this horrible policy ends?

Related ...
Black Gay Sailor Killed, Hate Crime Suspected [R20]