UPDATE: Marine faces murder and burglary charges in connection with death of fellow Marine

According to Camp Lejeune authorities, formal charges have been brought against Pvt. Jonathan Law in connection with the death of fellow Marine Cpl. Joshua Hartzell. They say Law has been charged with one count of burglary and one count of murder. No word yet on the weapon used in the alleged incident. Base authorities say Law is still in military custody on base at the Brig as he awaits trial.

Original Story:

A Marine has been arrested for the alleged murder of Marine Corporal Joshua Hartzell at Camp Lejeune. 
Base authorities say charges will likely be brought against Private Jonathan Law in Hartzell’s death when the investigation is complete. Authorities found Hartzell’s body in the woods near the French Creek area on base early Friday morning. The 22-year-old was from Hamilton, Ohio. An initial autopsy report indicates Hartzell died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Today, our sister station, WKRC in Cincinnati, Ohio spoke with Hartzell’s family.

Stepfather Kirk Dickhaus says, “It just takes the wind out of your sails, your head spins it’s something that I would never want to see anybody go through.“

But now that Dickhaus is living the tragedy of life without his stepson he wants people to remember Hartzell as a man of honor. He says, “We just wanted everybody to know what a good person he was…and never in trouble. And always out to do the right thing and protect anyone around him and his country.“

Rebecca Lumpkin says her brother was the perfect role model: loyal, committed and responsible.
She says, “Part of your heart leaves you to know that he’s gone.“

Gone because of what Camp Lejeune calls an alleged homicide making his death even more difficult for his family to understand.

Sara Robbe says, “You do feel a little violated, you know, scared. You go through the whole ‘why, why, why? But, you can’t do that you know we’re here where we are at. Let’s be strong.“

Fellow Marine Private Jonathan Law is in custody, but Robbe hopes that doesn’t affect people’s perception of the military.

She says, “I just feel like sometimes things like this can, you know people just start questioning their faith in our country and if we’re not doing that, neither should you. Neither should anybody else.“

Base authorities have not indicated what a motive might be.

The following is an official press release from Base regarding the latest details in the investigation.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Private Jonathan Law, 21, has been arrested for the alleged murder of Corporal Joshua E. Hartzell, 22.

After 1:00 a.m. Friday morning, the Camp Lejeune Provost Marshals Office received a call reporting a disturbance at the French Creek barracks aboard the base. PMO arrived on scene with the base Emergency Medical Services to find Law with apparent self-inflicted wounds and Hartzell’s body in the woods across the street from the barracks. Law was transported to the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital and then life-flighted from the Naval Hospital to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C. for treatment of his wounds. Afterwards, he was read his rights and arrested for suspicion of murder.

An initial autopsy completed Saturday by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology indicated that Hartzell died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Saturday, Law was transported to Camp Lejeune Brig for pretrial confinement. Charges against Law will be preferred following the investigation. The charge of murder is an accusation and Law is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a military court-martial.

Law is a supply administration clerk assigned to 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Hartzell was an electro-optical ordnance repairer with 2nd Maintenance Battalion also in 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

Law, from Clark County, Nev., joined the Marine Corps August 15, 2006. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to March 2008.  His awards include the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Hartzell, from Hamilton, Ohio, was born October 20, 1987, and joined the Marine Corps September 5, 2006. His personal awards include the Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.