Florida Marine Among 3 Found Dead At NC Gas Station

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC — A 23-year-old Marine from Florida was among three lance corporals found dead in a privately-owned vehicle at a North Carolina gas station on Sunday, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.

The three marines stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune were found unresponsive around 9 a.m. Sunday in Hampstead, North Carolina, according to a Marine Corps news release.

In an earlier Facebook post, the Pender County Sheriff's Office said they were investigating a missing persons report when they found three bodies outside a Speedway store about 29 miles southwest of the base.

The Marine from Florida was identified as Lance Cpl. Ivan R. Garcia from Naples. Garcia was a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and Marine Logistics Group. Garcia served in the Marines since July 2019.

Garcia was previously assigned to stations at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Global War on Terror Service Medal.

The Marine Corps identified the other two lance corporals as Merax C. Dockery, 23, of Oklahoma, and Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Wisconsin.

"My deepest sympathy and condolences are extended to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lance Cpl. Kaltenberg, Lance Cpl. Dockery and Lance Cpl. Garcia," Brig. Gen. Michael E. McWilliams said in a news release. "Our focus is providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by their tragic loss as they navigate this extremely difficult time."

The Marine Corps said all three men were pronounced dead on July 23. The Pender County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Authorities did not immediately reveal a cause of death.

"We do not suspect anything as far as foul play in that matter," Sgt. Chester Ward of the Pender County Sheriff's Office told The Associated Press, noting that the sheriff's office is waiting on autopsy results because the cause of death "might be something that we don't see."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.