Missing Fort Hood Soldier Found Hanging in a Tree

FORT HOOD, TX – Family Attorney for the missing Fort Hood soldier, Sgt. Elder Fernandes, has confirmed that authorities have found his body hanging in a tree.

According to the Army Times, on August 25, officers with the Temple Police Department received a medical call about a man near railroad tracks. When they arrived they determined the man was dead. 

Officers claim that no foul play has been suspected at this time but an autopsy has been ordered. Police identified the man as Fernandes only by the identification information found in a backpack on his person. Forensic confirmation is pending but Fernandes' family attorney Natalie Khawam has already alerted the family. 

Khawam says that Army officials have told her and the family that the body was found hanging in a tree. 

As previously reported, on August 24, Army officials confirmed that Fernandes was involved in a “open investigation of abusive sexual contact.” Fernandes was allegedly the victim of the abuse. For more click here: Missing Fort Hood Soldier Reported Sexual Abuse

Fernandes' body was found after missing for only five days before his body was found. This is the ninth Fort Hood Solder to found dead since March.