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Army confirms body found near Fort Hood is missing soldier Gregory Morales

KILLEEN, Texas — Skeletal remains found near Fort Hood have been identified as those of a soldier missing from the Texas base since August 2019, and authorities are investigating the death as a homicide.

The mother of Pvt. Gregory Morales confirmed to KTRK in Houston that the body found Friday morning in Killeen, Texas, was her son, last seen on Aug. 19, 2019, driving a Kia Rio outside of Fort Hood that was later recovered by authorities.

The remains were discovered following an anonymous tip, KTRK reported.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, U.S. Army investigators and the Army’s Dental Corps helped identify the remains.

“The First Team is saddened by the news of the passing of PV2 Gregory Morales. His life was taken too soon, and we appreciate his service to our nation,” Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, said in a statement from Fort Hood.

Foul play is suspected, and Army investigators are offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone with credible information regarding Morales’ death, the Statesman reported.

INFORMATION SOUGHT ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF PV2 GREGORY MORALES (WEDEL) The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is...

Posted by III Corps and Fort Hood on Wednesday, 17 June 2020

According to Army officials, Morales, 24, was an Oklahoma native who joined the Army in June 2015 as a motor transport operator. He had been assigned to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division since November 2016.

In his brief career, Morales had earned two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Driver and Mechanics Badge and the Army Service Ribbon, the Statesman reported.