3 found dead in car at North Carolina gas station are identified as Marines stationed nearby

28

Marine Lance Corporals Found Dead in Car at North Carolina Gas Station Identified

The U.S. Marine Corps has identified the three men who were found dead at a North Carolina gas station over the weekend. They were Marine lance corporals stationed at Camp Lejeune, located nearby. The victims have been named as Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, from Madison, Wisconsin; Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Oklahoma; and Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Florida. These young men served as motor vehicle operators with the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, and 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

Deputies from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office made the unfortunate discovery of the three unresponsive Marines on a Sunday morning at a Speedway gas station in Hampstead, which is approximately 29 miles (47 kilometers) southwest of the base. Medical authorities declared them deceased on the same day, while the cause of their deaths remains undisclosed.

Sgt. Chester Ward from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they had previously received a missing person report for one of the Marines but didn’t provide further details. Notably, no drugs were found in the vehicle.

Regarding the investigation, Sgt. Ward stated, “We do not suspect anything as far as foul play in that matter.” However, he also mentioned that the sheriff’s office is awaiting autopsy results, acknowledging that the cause of death may be something not immediately apparent.

Brig. Gen. Michael McWilliams, the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of Lance Cpl. Kaltenberg, Lance Cpl. Dockery, and Lance Cpl. Garcia. He assured that their focus is on providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by this tragic loss as they navigate through this extremely difficult time.

The investigation into the cause of their deaths is ongoing, and authorities anticipate receiving the results as early as Wednesday.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Marines

More about Marines

• “U.S. Marine Corps Identifies Three Marines Found Dead at North Carolina Gas Station” (source)
• “Pender County Sheriff’s Office Statement on Discovery of Marines’ Bodies” (source)
• “Camp Lejeune Official Website” (source)
• “Speedway Gas Station Website” (source)
• “Report for America Website” (source)