Updated 06/25/2008 07:21 AM
Pregnant soldier found dead in hotel
Officials say the 24-year-old was dead when they found her Sunday at the Fairfield Inn on Morganton Road.
FAYETTEVILLE -- A woman found dead in a Fayetteville hotel Sunday morning has been identified as a pregnant soldier from Fort Bragg.
Officials say 24-year-old Spc. Megan Touma, who was seven months pregnant, was dead when they found her at the Fairfield Inn on Morganton Road. Touma was a dental specialist assigned to the 19th Replacement Detachment at Fort Bragg. She arrived there less than two weeks ago.
In response to her death, Fort Bragg released the following statement:
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
"We want to convey the pride we feel in the job Spc. Megan Touma was doing serving our country. The loss of Spc. Touma is very tragic and our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to the loved ones she leaves behind."
Touma is the second pregnant soldier to die in North Carolina in a year. Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach was found dead near Camp Lejeune in January. Fellow Marine Cesear Laurean is charged with her death.
Police are calling Touma's death suspicious. There is no word yet on how she died but police believe she had been dead for several days before her body was found.
A private memorial service is planned for Friday.