Autopsy: Pregnant soldier victim of homicide

FAYETTEVILLE -- Authorities say a second autopsy of a pregnant Fort Bragg soldier found dead in a local motel confirms her death was a homicide. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said Friday that 23-year-old Army Spc. Megan Touma of Cold Spring, Ky., was a homicide victim. The cause of her death hasn't been released. The autopsy was conducted by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Touma was found dead in a bathtub in a Fayetteville motel room June 21. Her body was found after a maintenance supervisor smelled a foul odor. Touma was seven months pregnant and had recently arrived from a base in Germany. Police are investigating a letter sent to the Fayetteville Observer purported to be from a person claiming responsibility for her death. Authorities have said they think the letter was written to mislead investigators and the media. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)