Army Drill Sergeant Found Shot Dead Inside Her Car in Texas

A U.S. Army drill sergeant was found dead inside her bullet-riddled car in Texas on New Year's Day.

The body of 30-year-old Jessica Mitchell was discovered by police officers responding to a call of a stranded vehicle on Interstate 10 at around 2 a.m. local time (3 a.m. EST). According to the police, Mitchell's white Dodge Challenger had multiple bullet holes in the driver's side door and window, USA Today reported.

"Officers opened the vehicle door and checked for a pulse on the victim inside (who) appeared to have been struck multiple times," said a statement by San Antonio police, USA Today reported.

She was immediately taken to the University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police cordoned off the highway and the scene was processed by crime scene technicians and detectives.

Mitchell, who was assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Center for Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, was on leave when the murder happened.

Army's Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the death of Mitchell, said a statement by the Joint Base San Antonio.

"We are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchell’s family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster in a statement as reported by the New York Post.

Mitchell had a 10-year-old son. According to her sister Ashley Mitchell, she had made at least one social media post about “ringing in the new year” hours before her body was found.

“Why would anybody want to do this? Why do people do such heinous acts of crime for no reason?” said Ashley Mitchell, New York Post reported.

Meanwhile, the military officials have also launched an investigation into the death of 19-year-old Pfc. Asia M. Graham. Graham, of Cherryville, North Carolina, was found unresponsive in her barracks room at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, ABC News reported. However, no foul play is suspected.

In another incident, the dismembered body of a missing Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén was found near Fort Hood, a Texas Army installation, about 147 miles from San Antonio in March 2020. Spc. Aaron Robinson, 20, was sought in connection with her death, but he later committed suicide.