Autopsy: Pregnant soldier victim of homicide

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Authorities say a second autopsy of a pregnant Fort Bragg soldier found dead in a local motel confirms her death was a homicide.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said Friday that Army Spc. Megan Touma, 23, of Cold Spring, Ky., was a homicide victim. The cause of her death hasn't been released. The autopsy was conducted by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Touma was found dead in a bathtub in a Fayetteville motel room June 21. Her body was found after a maintenance supervisor smelled a foul odor.

A Fort Bragg soldier is a person of interest in the case, but authorities have not charged anyone in the case.

Touma, who was seven months pregnant, joined the Army in 2003 and was recently from the U.S. Army Dental Clinic in Bamberg, Germany.

She was assigned to the 19th Replacement Company at Fort Bragg.

Police are investigating a letter sent to the Fayetteville Observer purported to be from a person claiming responsibility for her death. Authorities have said they think the letter was written to mislead investigators and the media.