Enrique Roman-Martinez was an 82nd Division paratrooper from Chino, California, serving at Fort Bragg and due to be honorably discharged in about three months when he disappeared during a Memorial Day weekend camping trip on May 23, 2020. He and seven other soldiers camped on South Core Banks; after his tent collapsed around midnight Enrique walked off without his phone, wallet, or telling anyone where he was going. His companions reported searching all day and called 911 that evening to report him missing.

Nearly a week later a decapitated human head washed ashore on Shackleford Banks and was later identified as Enrique’s. His autopsy noted a somewhat crescent-shaped incised versus chop wound extending partway up the cervical spine to the seventh cervical vertebra; the cause of death was ruled homicide by undetermined means. Multiple agencies searched land and water in the following months but no other remains or belongings were found.

Seven soldiers who camped with Enrique faced separate court-martial actions in 2021 on various charges not directly tied to his death. A California state representative later raised concerns about the investigation. Does anyone have information about Enrique’s last hours on South Core Banks or about items that might not have been recovered?