A grieving mother of a US Marine who died under mysterious circumstances in Bahrain last month has now alleged that her son was murdered, according to an American news channel.
Corporal Brandon Alvarez, 22, was found dead on June 6 in what has been officially classed as a ‘non-combat related incident’, while serving with the US Marines in Bahrain.
He was deployed under the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Support Team Central Command (FASTCENT), Marine Corps Security Force Regiment in Bahrain, and joined duty on May 21 at the Naval Support Activity in Juffair.
Members of this regiment provide security to high-value naval installations, most notably those containing nuclear vessels and weapons.
The heartbroken marine’s mother, Maria Cruz, gave an interview with California-based KTLA Channel 5 and demanded answers from the US authorities.
The mourning mother, who viewed her son’s body, claimed there were bruises and a mark around his neck.
Corporal Alvarez
“My son had bruises right there,” she said, pointing towards the centre of her chest.
“(It) looks like his nose was broken ... they found a mark around his neck.”
Ms Cruz said she last saw her son alive on Mother’s Day weekend. Bahrain was his first deployment outside the US.
“I only know that he was very excited to go, he did not really tell me what he was doing,” she said. “What happened? I want answers.”
The channel also suggested her son was murdered by fellow marines.
There has been no official response from the Juffair-based US Navy Fifth Fleet about the incident which reportedly happened in his room last month.
The Mexican-American marine is survived by three sisters and two brothers. His girlfriend posted a photograph on social media putting flowers on his grave.
Meanwhile, family members, friends and supporters, who hail from Ventura County, California, protested yesterday demanding ‘Justice for Brandon’, and will continue with daily sit-ins until Tuesday. Due to the ongoing heatwave in the US, the timing of the planned protests has changed but the family is determined to continue calling for an investigation.
The GDN reported last week that photographs posted by the US Defence Visual Information Distribution Service showed the ‘dignified transfer’ of the Marine’s remains that arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on June 10.
His casket was draped in the US flag as servicemen saluted their fallen comrade.
A GoFund page set up by the family has collected more than $19,000 donations for the ‘great American warrior’.
&uuid=(email))