A military soldier and a 16-year-old boy are charged with the murder of Hayden Harris, a corporal in Fort Drum, New York, who was found dead in New Jersey.
According to the Sussex County prosecutor, Jamaal Mellish, 23, and the unidentified teenager are being executed on charges of murder, kidnapping and second-degree weapons.
Mellish was also charged with third-degree repression of evidence.
Harris, 20, was shot dead and buried under snow in a wooded area of Byram Township on Dec. 19. Shortly before his death, Harris was reported missing.
Firefighters discovered the body after seeing debris and blood along a driveway during an annual Santa ride.
“The top of the snow is stained with blood,” police said. “During a search for the disturbed area in the snow, the body of the victim was found about 200 meters in the wooded area, mostly buried under snow.”
Investigators said Mellish was supposed to trade a Ford Mustang with Harris for a Chevy pickup. Police had a previous transaction.
According to an assistant prosecutor in Sussex County, authorities believe Mellish “kidnapped” Harris during the planned vehicle change.
Mellish is being held in military detention in New York pending extradition to New Jersey. It is not clear if he has a lawyer.
The teenager is being held in a juvenile detention center. Byram police and the prosecutor’s office did not say how the teenager was allegedly involved.
Harris, an infantryman with the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, joined the Army in March 2019. The Tennessee native was posthumously promoted to corporal and awarded the Army Commendation Medal, honoring soldiers for their heroic actions, achievements or service.
He also earned several awards and decorations, including the Medal for the National Defense Service, the Medal for the Global War on Terrorism, and the Army Service Ribbon.
“It was known here that Corporal Harris was a great soldier, and as we share our grief with his friends and family, I hear time and time again how he too – and above all – was a wonderful, caring man,” Brigadier General Brett said. Funck, acting senior commander of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, in a statement.
