3 Fort Stewart Soldiers Face Death Penalty in Murder Case

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for three of four Fort Stewart soldiers accused of murdering a former soldier and his girlfriend, according to a WSAV report.

Pvt. Isaac Aguigui, Sgt. Anthony Peden and Pvt. Christopher Salmon could face the death penalty if convicted for their roles in the of Michael Roark, 19, and Tiffany York, 17. Prosecutors cited domestic terrorism as one of the reasons for seeking the death penalty, according to WSAV. A fourth soldier, Pfc. Michael Burnett, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is testifying against the other three defendants.

Prosecutors say the four soldiers were involved in an anarchist militia group that plotted to take over Fort Stewart, bomb targets in Savannah and Washington state and assassinate the president. According to testimony from Burnett, Aguigui ordered the killings because Roark -- thought to be a member of the militia -- had left the Army and it was feared he might betray the group.

Burnett said Monday that he and the other three defendants had lured the victims into the woods near Fort Stewart on the night of Dec. 4 on the pretext of going target shooting, according to the Associated Press. Burnett testified that once the group arrived, Peden shot York in the head as she was trying to exit her car. Salmon forced Roark to his knees and shot him twice in the head, Burnett said.

Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said Tuesday that although the Army's Criminal Investigation Command -- known as the CID -- is investigating the group, it has found little indication that the "militia" extended beyond the four defendants.

"The investigation by CID is ongoing," Larson told Fort Stewart Patch. "However, we don’t believe there are any unknown subjects. The CID investigation continues also because it's supporting the civilian legal efforts. Basically, this is an isolated event involving four soldiers that’s not reflective of our Army values."

More on the murders of Michael Roark and Tiffany York: