Soldier’s Electrocution in Iraq Was Negligent Homicide, Army Concludes

WASHINGTON — Army investigators have concluded that a Green Beret electrocuted in a shower in his barracks in Iraq was the victim of negligent homicide in a case involving the largest American contractor in Iraq, according to a written statement from one investigator.

In a Dec. 16 e-mail message written to the mother of the Green Beret, Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, who died last January, an Army investigator stated that the cause of death had been changed from accidental to negligent homicide for the purpose of the investigation. The change was first reported Thursday afternoon by The Associated Press.

Sergeant Maseth’s death led to a series of investigations that uncovered widespread safety problems caused by shoddy electrical work performed by contractors at American bases throughout Iraq. Internal Pentagon documents indicate that at least 18 American personnel members have been electrocuted in Iraq, while poor electrical work has caused hundreds of fires and other damage at American bases.

In the e-mail message, Amber A. Wojnar, the Army criminal special agent in charge at Camp Slayer in Iraq, said her investigation had found “credible information” that the negligence of the contractor, KBR, and two of its supervisors working in Iraq “led to Ryan’s death.”

Ms. Wojnar makes it clear in the message, however, that the Army has not made a final determination on whether to bring criminal charges against KBR, which is based in Houston, or its supervisors. She said the investigators’ report would be reviewed by the Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir, Va.

In a statement, a KBR spokeswoman, Heather Browne, said the company could not comment because it had not seen the report. She added: “KBR’s investigation has produced no evidence that KBR was responsible for Sergeant Maseth’s death. We have cooperated fully with all government agencies investigating this matter and will do so in the future.”

Cheryl Harris, Sergeant Maseth’s mother, who has filed a wrongful-death suit against KBR, said in an interview Thursday that since she received the e-mail message in December, she has been told that her son’s case is under review by Army lawyers. Christopher Grey, a spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
NYT