U.S. Marines with Marine Innovation Unit, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, pose for a photo following an annual training period on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., March 11, 2023. A Marine, who was a student at the Marine Corps University, was found unresponsive Sept. 2, 2023, inside his vehicle on the campus in Quantico, Va. (Kevin Stapleton/U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
WASHINGTON — Investigators are trying to find out what led a Marine being found dead inside a vehicle at the Marine Corps University campus in Quantico, Va., officials said.
The Marine, who was a student at the military institution, was found unresponsive Saturday inside his vehicle parked on the campus, the Marine Corps Education Command said.
“Officials pronounced him deceased on the scene,” said Maj. Joshua Pena, a Marine Corps spokesperson. “Naval Criminal Investigative Service has been notified, and an investigation has been opened into the matter.”
The Marine Corps delayed the release of the service member until 24 hours after notification of the next of kin.
The campus is located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, about 30 miles southwest of Washington.
According to its website, the Marine Corps University “develops the professional competence of its Marines, other service, international, and civilian students.” Specifically, it says graduates “are prepared to perform with increased effectiveness in service, joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational environments at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of war, across the range of military operations.”
The death marks the second time in the last few months that a military service member has been found dead inside their vehicle.
Master Sgt. Juan Paulo Ferrer Bordador, an intelligence specialist with the Joint Staff, was found dead in March inside his vehicle in a Pentagon parking lot. Army investigators later concluded that he committed suicide.
The death in Quantico is the sixth of a Marine in recent weeks. Three Marines died in the crash of a V-22B Osprey in Australia last week; a Marine pilot died when his F/A-18 fighter jet crashed in Southern California on Aug. 24; and one Marine died during a live-fire exercise at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on Aug. 17.
