Fort Hood soldier arrested, charged in death of Louisiana man

A Fort Hood soldier was arrested last week and charged in connection to the death of a man in Alexandria, La., according to local police.

Pfc. Taylor Jenkins, 20, was arrested July 8, in Killeen, Texas, and charged with second-degree murder in the death of JaKobey Kahey, 22, who was reported missing three days earlier, according to the Alexandria Police Department. Another man, Daviyone Mock, 25, also was arrested in Alexandria and charged with the same crime. Additional charges and arrests are possible as detectives continue to gather evidence, according to police.

Jenkins, of the 418th Transportation Company, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, was initially held in Bell County Jail near Fort Hood, but was booked into Rapides Parish Detention Center in Alexandria on Wednesday and then placed bail, according to online jail records.

He enlisted in October 2024 as a truck driver, according to his official service record.

“This matter remains under the jurisdiction of civilian law enforcement, and the Army is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation,” according to a statement from Fort Hood. “As this is an active legal case, the Army will defer to civilian authorities for details related to the investigation, charges, and any pending legal actions.”

Police announced Friday that Kahey’s body was found in Boyce, a city about 20-minutes drive west of Alexandria. A cause of death has not been released.

“This was a horrific crime that shook our entire community, and from the very beginning our detectives refused to give up,” Alexandria Police Chief Chad Gremillion said in a statement.

The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Alexandria Police Department.