Was Spc. Megan Lynn Touma Murdered by Zodiac Copycat?

June 30, 2008

The case officially began on Saturday, June 21, 2008 when a maintenance man at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, located in the 5000 block of Morganton Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina complained to an assistant manager about a foul odor emanating from the vicinity of Room 143.  When the assistant manager investigated, a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on the room's door was observed.  It was approximately 11:25 a.m., and since the registered guest's checkout time of noon was fast approaching after a more than week-long stay, the assistant manager entered the room.  There was no longer any doubt about where the foul odor was coming from.  The body of a young woman, whose demise was not immediately known, was found in the bathtub of the motel room.

According to a Fayetteville police affidavit for a search warrant, the room was registered to Spc. Megan Lynn Touma, 23, an Army dental specialist who was being reassigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, located a few miles slightly northwest of Fayetteville, from the U.S. Army Dental Clinic in Bamberg, Germany.  She had arrived in Fayetteville on Thursday, June 12, and had checked into the motel a short time later after turning down Army accommodations.  She was last seen on that same day at Fort Bragg at a day's end formation.

Although the police affidavit mentioned that the bed in the room had been pushed a small distance from the wall, according to the Fayetteville Observer, and that the nightstand and lamp next to it were awry, there was no mention of a struggle having occurred there.  Keys belonging to a 2008 Trailblazer that had been rented from Enterprise Rent-A-Car were found lying on top of the dresser.  Aside from what was contained in the public information document, including the fact that the cops were looking for items such as weapons, articles of clothing, cellular telephone, digital camera, computer, and so forth, the police played it close to the vest and were not releasing additional information at that time.  They had also instructed motel employees not to talk to the press.

According to Fort Bragg officials, Touma apparently was divorced, but information about her former husband was not released.  It was possible, said an official, that she may have been recently engaged to be married again, but no substantiation of that possibility was released.  Maj. Angela Funaro, public affairs officer for the base's 18th Airborne Corps, told reporters that Touma was born in Seoul, South Korea, but had also resided in Cold Spring, Kentucky.  She had joined the Army in 2003.  Shortly after joining, she had been stationed at Fort Drum, New York, until being sent to Germany in 2005.

By the time that she arrived at Fort Bragg, she was 7 months pregnant.

It appeared that Touma had been dead approximately two days by the time her body was found, and the condition that her body was in due to decomposition made it difficult to immediately determine how she had died.

"I just want to express, on behalf of the entire U.S. Army, our deepest, heartfelt sympathies to the family and loved ones of Spc. Megan Touma," Funaro said.  "We are saddened by her tragic death and the death of her unborn baby…by all accounts, she performed honorably…we want to convey the pride we feel in the job Spc. Megan Touma was doing serving our country."

Among the awards and decorations that Touma had been awarded during her Army career were the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

At first it seemed like a typical homicide investigation—until a smudged envelope containing a letter confessing to Touma's murder and promising that there would be more to come, arrived at...

Continue Reading Was Spc. Megan Lynn Touma Murdered by Zodiac Copycat?

Megan Lynn Touma photo credit: NCwanted.com

Comments

[SGT Devin J Veney]

I once knew Megan, from being at Ft. Drum, NY. I used to work at a club called "Tequila's" as the dj and she used to come in there all of the time. I knew her only in passing really, as she was dating one of the bouncers there at the time; and that was about it. I know for a fact that she had no enemies and was a very liked person and I know for a fact that she will be greatly missed. I want to send out a special prayer to her family and loved ones as I hope that this case is resolved and someone is brought to jsutice for this hienous crime. Although, I know that nothing can be done to bring her back, at least the family can have some sort of closure by the killer being brought in.

SGT Devin J Veney
Chemical Biological Radiological Nulcear Environmental Operations
U.S. Army
B Co. 6th PLT, Warrior Transistion Battallion
Fort Riley, Kansas

[Concerned in Canada]

SGT Devin J Veney is surely an avid researcher and of an intelligent imagination, but monsieur is not the Zodiac nor doe he know anything about the death of Ms. Touma. Interesting, yes. Relevant, well, I don't see much evidence.

[JOSEPH. H. TOUMA]

MY NAME IS JOSEPH H. TOUMA .J.P
I LIVE IN AUSTRALIA
MY FATHER WAS RISE IN CANADA AND IS RELATED TO THE LATE FARAJ TOUMA
I AM TRYING TO LOCATE ALL THE TOUMA IN CANADA AND THE USA
CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN
PS IS MEGAN TOUMA ORIGIN FROM CANDA
BEST REGARD

[Gary C. King]

I am sorry, Mr. Touma, but I am not privy to the information you are seeking. Good luck in your search.

[SGT Devin J Veney]

what does "concerned in canada" mean by what they said to me in late july...i am confused...