LaVena Johnson died on June 19, 2005, eight days shy of her twentieth birthday.

The army private died in Iraq, giving her the dubious distinction of being the first woman solider from Missouri to while on duty in Iraq.

Unlike other casualties in Iraq, there is a big question mark about just how she died.

At first, the Army said she died of “self-inflicted non-combat injuries” but did not rule it a suicide. Later, the Army ruled her death a suicide.

However, there are just too many question to allow this ruling to go unchallenged:

For example, her father, Dr. John Johnson raises these concerns:

In an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dr. Johnson pointed to indications that his daughter had endured a physical struggle before she died — two loose front teeth, a “busted lip” that had to be reconstructed by the funeral home — suggesting that “someone might have punched her in the mouth.”

Also, there are some even more striking concerns:

• Indications of physical abuse that went unremarked by the autopsy
• The absence of psychological indicators of suicidal thoughts; indeed, testimony that LaVena was happy and healthy prior to her death
• Indications, via residue tests, that LaVena may not even have handled the weapon that killed her
• A blood trail outside the tent where Lavena’s body was found
• Indications that someone attempted to set LaVena’s body on fire

This situation is eerily reminiscent of that of Pat Tillman, the football player who gave up a lucrative career to join the military. Originally reported as a death at the hand of the enemy, it was later disclosed that Tillman was killed by friendly fire.

So, is the Army’s story the truth? If not, her family deserves to know how Private LaVena Johnson really died.

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