Ms. LaVena Johnson, following her family's military tradition, joined the Army immediately after finishing high school as an honor roll student.
In July 2005, Ms. Johnson was found dead in a military army base in Iraq. The military ruled her death as a suicide. There was evidence found on her body however of a physical struggle consisting of two loose front teeth and a bruised lip which had to be corrected at the funeral home.
Despite her father, Dr. John Johnson's inquires into her body's physical condition, the army responded that the case was closed.
More evidence that did not support the military's ruling of Ms. Johnson's death was a suicide was revealed by a local Missouri news network. Ms. Johnson's mental state was quite stable according to reports before her death, there was a trail of blood leading to the barracks where her body was found as well as evidence that a perpetrator attempted to set her body on fire.
Despite years of Mr. John Johnson's dedicated efforts to have the army reopen the case, they continue to refuse.
Philip Barron, an independent activist, dedicated his effort toward military justice and full disclosure with the website
http://www.lavenajohnson.com/ and also started a petition that has recently expired which targeted the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and the House.
There is a renewed interest surrounding the call for justice for LaVena Johnson with more and more people becoming educated of the facts.
Let us utilize this renewed interest and demand our Congress to call for investigations, and full disclosure of the events surrounding the death of such a beautiful soul.
We the undersigned, urge you to reopen an investigation on the death of Ms. LaVena Johnson. Ms. Johnson, a 19 year old private stationed in Iraq died in July of 2005. Upon her death, the army declared that Ms. Johnson's death was self inflicted.
Due to the dedicated investigation of Dr. J. Johnson, further evidence has been found from the autopsy of Ms. Johnson's body and from the barracks where her body was found.
This evidence includes a blood trail leading toward where her body was found, signs that a perpetrator attempted to burn both the barracks and her body, signs of physical struggle in the form of two loose front teeth as well as a bruised lip which had to be reconstructed by the funeral home which attended to her body.
When Dr. J. Johnson presented this new evidence the response he received from the military is that the case is closed.
We urge you, in the name of democracy, in the name of justice, in the name of civic honor to reopen the investigation of Ms. Johnson's death and fully disclose all findings.
Ms. Johnson was an honor roll student, who straight from high school enlisted herself voluntarily into the army. If her sacrifice is to be honored in action, her death must be thoroughly investigated and if it is found that Ms. Johnson was murdered that the perpetrator be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Rebuilding the morale of our military, of our citizens and our country demands real answers.
We thank you, in advance, for your focused consideration and commitment to justice.
