Marine Husband Charged with Wife’s Murder

By Pamela Mortimer

The charred body of 2nd Lt. Holley Wimunc, 24, has been found in the woods in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area. Law enforcement officials have been searching for the Marine nurse since July 10, when her apartment went up in flames. Both Holley and her husband were stationed at Camp Lejeune, which is about two hours away from Holley Wimunc's family home in Fayetteville. The Wimuncs were the parents of two children.

Police arrested Wimunc's husband, Marine Cpl. John Wimunc for the arson as well as first degree murder. Arrested as an accomplice in the murder was Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle Alden, said Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine.

Wimunc and Alden were initially charged with the arson of Wimunc's apartment. A charge of first degree murder was imposed on John Wimunc after he was interviewed by police. In addition to the arson charge, Alden was charged with felony accessory after the fact to first degree murder. The men were taken to Cumberland County's jail where they are being held without bail.

"It is with profound sadness that our family just received the news from authorities that our beloved daughter Holley is dead," Wimunc's father said in a statement on Monday.

"Since last Thursday's shocking news about Holley's burned apartment and her missing person status, our family through the country has nonetheless been holding on to a thin thread of hope that she would be found alive."

Joe Lenczyk -- resident agent-in-charge for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said the Wimuncs were maintaining separate residences.

Wimunc is the second female soldier to have been killed in recent weeks.

Reports show Fort Bragg based soldier Spc. Megan Lynn Touma, 23, was seven months pregnant at the time of her death in June. The death was initially determined to be a suicide but is now being investigated as a homicide.

Wimunc’s murder is not the first suspicious death to occur at Camp Lejeune this year.

In January, the charred body of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, 20, was found in the back yard of a fellow Marine. Like Touma, Lauterbach was pregnant at the time of her death. The prime suspect in the case, U.S. Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, is currently being pursued by law enforcement officials.