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thedrifter
04-13-09, 07:29 AM
Family of Conn. Marine disputes suicide report

April 13, 2009

WATERBURY, Conn. --A Connecticut couple are disputing the official Marine Corps conclusion that their son's death in Iraq was a suicide.

A report obtained by the Republican-American newspaper shows Cpl. Christian Scott Cotner of Waterbury died of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound from his service rifle.

Karen Cotner and her husband, Graham Cotner, say they do not accept the Marines' findings because everyone who knew their son also does not agree.

Karen Cotner says her son had plans to visit home later in 2008 and planned a casino trip with his mother.

An officer wrote in the report that the Marines may never know why Cotner took his own life in May 2008, two months after arriving in Iraq.

The Cotners says nothing adds up.

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Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com

Ellie

thedrifter
04-13-09, 08:03 AM
Marine's family dispute finding on his death


The Marine Corps has concluded that Cpl. Christian Scott Cotner, a Waterbury Marine who died in a non-combat incident in Iraq last year, committed suicide.

Cotner's family strongly disagrees with the conclusion.

Recently, the military completed its investigation into the death of the Waterbury native, graduate of Wilby High School and a member of that school's ROTC program.

A copy of the report was provided to the Republican-American in response to a Freedom of Information request.

The investigation showed Cotner died of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound from his M-4 service rifle. His death was ruled a suicide.

“We may never know why Corporal Cotner took his own life,” wrote an officer whose name was removed from the report.

“We mourn this needless loss of life and hope and pray that his family can overcome the tremendous grief and pain of a life that unquestionably ended far too soon. Corporal Christian S. Cotner was a patriot who bravely and honorably volunteered to serve his Nation during a time of war. We will remember him as such.”

During the military's investigation, fellow Marines testified to Cotner's character, his frame of mind in the days before he took his own life and about the plans he talked about for his life after the Marines.

Cotner enlisted in the Marine Corps on Nov. 28, 2005 at age 18. He graduated from boot camp and Marine combat training in November 2006. He reported to his first Fleet Marine Force duty station with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, in Okinawa in April 2007. He arrived in Iraq on March 28, 2008. Two months later, he was dead.

His mother, Karen Cotner, and her husband, Graham Cotner, said they do not accept the Marines' findings.

“They have their finding and they are satisfied,” Karen Cotner said. “But we don't agree. Everyone who knew Christian also does not agree.”

Ellie