Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The more the Army insists that Levinia was deranged and killed herself, the more her dad knows he needs to find out what it is they're covering up." — Ashley Flowers
"Women serving in the US military are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq." — Ashley Flowers (quoting former US representative Jane Harmon)
"It was obvious from pictures that some type of corrosive liquid had been poured into her genitals, likely in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence of rape." — Ashley Flowers
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into a disturbing pattern of alleged systemic cover-ups within the U.S. military concerning the deaths of female soldiers, often following sexual assault. The narrative centers on the case of Lavenia Johnson, a young woman who joined the military to fund her education and continue a family tradition. Her family's communications painted a picture of a young soldier facing workplace disrespect and a personal struggle with sexual assault and an STD, which she concealed from them. When Lavenia was found dead in Iraq, the official military explanation of suicide using an M-16 rifle was met with immediate skepticism by her family due to inconsistencies with her personality, the circumstances of her death, and physical evidence observed during an open casket funeral.
The podcast details the Johnson family's arduous fight for transparency against the U.S. Army. They faced significant resistance in obtaining investigative records, which, when finally acquired, revealed critical discrepancies such as the distance of the rifle from Lavenia's body and the absence of gunpowder residue on her hands. Further examination of a CD-ROM containing crime scene photos exposed brutal evidence, including severe facial damage, signs of being dragged, burn marks, and indications of a corrosive liquid used in her genitals—all suggestive of a violent assault and an attempt to destroy evidence. This starkly contradicted the military's initial claims and autopsy findings, leading the family to believe in a deliberate cover-up of rape and murder.
Beyond Lavenia's case, the episode highlights other similar instances of suspicious deaths of women in the military, including Tina Priest and an unnamed linguist, often ruled as suicides despite compelling evidence of foul play, including rape. The narrative emphasizes the emotional and legal toll these families endure, battling a system that appears to prioritize concealment over accountability. The episode concludes by advocating for support for organizations like Military Families for Justice, which aims to reform the military justice system and provide bereaved families with better access to investigations and records, urging listeners to sign a petition to demand change.