Three US Marines found dead in car near Camp Lejeune died of carbon monoxide poisoning

The three young US Marines who were found dead in a car at a gas station near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina died from carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities said.

Officials also revealed that the missing-person call that led to the tragic discovery on Sunday morning came from the worried mom of one of the dead soldiers, the Jacksonville, North Carolina, Daily News said.

The Pender County Sheriff’s Office got the call shortly before 8:30 a.m., with the woman reporting that her Marine son never showed up on his scheduled flight home to Oklahoma the night before, the outlet reported.

The sheriff’s office later found the three in a four-door sedan in the parking lock of a Speedway Convenience Store in Hampstead — with all three dead.

Authorities did not immediately say whether the deaths were believed to be accidental.

The three, all with the rank of lance corporal, were identified as Merax Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Okla., Tanner Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisc., and Ivan Garcia, 23, of Naples, Fla.

In a statement Tuesday, the US Marine Corps said all three were pronounced dead “by a competent medical authority” and the case is under investigation by the sheriff’s office.

“[The] 2nd Marine Logistics Group will continue to support NCIS and local authorities in
the conduct of their investigation,” the statement said.

Group commander Brig. Gen. Michael McWilliams express his “deepest sympathy and condolences are extended to the family, friends, and colleagues” of the dead Marines.

“Our focus is providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by their tragic loss as they navigate this extremely difficult time.”