FORT STEWART, GA – Tragedy struck Fort Stewart, a military base in Georgia, when a family of four was found dead at their on-site residential property. The Army stated on Friday that the incident appeared to be “domestic in nature.”
Discovering the lifeless bodies of Staff Sgt. Meiziaha T. Cooper, her husband Desmond Cooper, and their two children aged 4 and 9, occurred on Wednesday afternoon. It was after a welfare check was initiated at the behest of Meiziaha Cooper’s unit that the grim discovery was made.
Family members have identified the children as Juice and Desmond Jr.
With the investigation into the family’s death cause ongoing, the Army has yet to disclose details. The specific nature of the violence was also left unspecified.
The 3rd Infantry Division’s Deputy Commander of Operations, Col. Jeremy S. Wilson, stated the community was profoundly affected by this tragic event. He conveyed his sympathies to the grieving family, friends, and colleagues, asking for the respectful granting of privacy.
Staff Sgt. Meiziaha Cooper, a culinary noncommissioned officer since October 2012, was lauded by the Army for her dedication and contributions. She received various accolades, including four Army Commendation Medals and six Army Achievement Medals. Her colleagues remember her as a thoughtful, caring coworker and mentor who embraced both experienced and inexperienced soldiers with open arms.
While Desmond Cooper was acknowledged as a “prior service veteran” by an Army spokesperson, additional details about his service have remained undisclosed. Despite the identified domestic nature of the situation, it’s not yet clear if the incident will be treated criminally by authorities.