FORT LEWIS, Wash. -- A Fort Lewis soldier is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter in the death of 16-year-old Leah King, who was found dead in the Fort Lewis barracks, according to a press release.
Private Timothy E. Bennitt is charged with involuntary manslaughter, wrongful distribution of controlled substance and conspiracy to wrongfully use controlled substances, the press release said.
Bennitt, 19, is from Rolling Prairie, Ind., is a heavy construction equipment operator assigned to 864th Engineer Battalion. He has not deployed to Iraq.
VIDEO: Ft. Lewis Soldier Faces Charges
King was found unconscious inside Bennitt's room at the barracks where he lived on the morning of Feb. 15.
"Timmy is a good-hearted kid and he would never, ever have hurt that girl on purpose," said Bennitt’s mother, Pam Bennitt.
According to the press release, King died from a toxic combination of Alprazolam, an anti-depressant marketed as Xanax, and Oxymorphone, a painkiller marketed as Opana. There are indications some of the drugs were crushed and inhaled.
Another teenage girl found unconscious with King survived and recovered. Both were allegedly brought onto the base with Bennitt, showing only high school IDs, and in violation of Army regulations.
"The minors involved in this case gained access to Ft. Lewis when Pvt. Bennitt drove them on post through the main gate in a friend's pickup. We also believe Bennitt helped the girls into the barracks without signing-in with the unit's Charge of Quarters, and without a required parent or guardian, in violation of the barracks access policy,” said Col. John Robinson of I Corps.
RAW VIDEO: Fort Lewis Press Conference Regarding Charges
“He's a young soldier who may have done some very foolish things, broken the rules," Pam said.
According to charging documents, Bennitt asked King to arrange a meeting with an unnamed party to buy controlled substances and he provided her the money.
"In addition to charges related directly to the death of Leah King, charges were preferred against Pvt. Bennitt related to additional cases of distribution to other soldiers," Robinson said.
The drugs he's accused of distributing include Alprazolam, Oxymorphone, Oxycodone and marijuana, Robinson said.
Bennitt remains under control of his unit, and a decision will be made Tuesday whether or not he will be taken into custody.
"He knows how much we love him and we'll stand by him," Pam said.
She said she was shocked and had to speak to other family members.
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