Photo Credit: US Marines Corps
In a heartbreaking incident, three U.S. Marines were found dead in a parked car at a gas station in a coastal North Carolina community over the weekend. Autopsies conducted by the North Carolina Office of Medical Examiner have revealed that the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a statement from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
The three Marines, identified as Marine Corps Lance Corporal Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, from Madison, Wisconsin; Marine Corps Lance Corporal Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Oklahoma; and Marine Corps Lance Corporal Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Florida, served in the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, and 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune.
The tragic discovery was made by sheriff’s deputies who were responding to a report of a missing person. A woman called the office stating that her son, a Marine, had failed to arrive on a flight in Oklahoma the previous night. She had pinged her son’s phone to locate him, leading the deputies to the gas station in Hampstead, North Carolina.
The families of the deceased Marines are grieving, and as of now, they have not made any statements to the media.
Remembering the Fallen Marines
Merax C. Dockery was the youngest of five siblings and had joined the Marines in June 2020. Originally from Seminole, Oklahoma, he was remembered fondly by his family and friends.
Tanner J. Kaltenberg, a former student of Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin, enlisted in May 2021. He was an avid sports player, participating in baseball and hockey.
Ivan R. Garcia graduated from Lely High School in Naples, Florida, in 2019. His family and the Collier County Public Schools community mourn the loss of this young life.
The tragic incident has deeply affected all those who knew and loved the Marines, and the community is coming together to support their families during this difficult time.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time,” said Sheriff Alan Cutler in a statement, expressing his condolences to the grieving families.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine how the car ended up parked at the gas station and if there were any issues with the vehicle.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent and deadly threat that can occur in confined spaces with poor ventilation. This tragic incident serves as a reminder to stay vigilant and aware of such potential hazards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Source: USA Today
