Soldier charged with murder
Police say that the Schofield specialist strangled the mother of his 2-year-old son
A 21-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier was charged yesterday in the murder of his former girlfriend, with whom he was embroiled in a custody dispute over their 2-year-old son, Honolulu police said.
Jeffery White: He allegedly ran over the body of his former girlfriend after strangling her
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According to police, Spc. Jeffery Jarail White confessed to witnesses he strangled fellow Schofield soldier Felicia E. LaDuke, 22, about 10:30 p.m. Friday inside her car, pushed her out and then ran over her body with the car near Kaena Point.
White then concealed LaDuke's body in some bushes alongside the road and covered it with brush and leaves, police Detective James Anderson said in an affidavit.
White returned a few hours later to make sure LaDuke was dead. He brought along an acquaintance, whom he showed where LaDuke's body was hidden.
The young woman's body was found by military police at 69-1249 Farrington Highway.
The soldier surrendered to military police at Schofield Barracks, where he was held until he was turned over to Honolulu police, said Schofield Barracks spokesman Troy Griffin. Honolulu police arrested White at 7:50 p.m. Saturday.
He was also charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The city medical examiner said LaDuke died of "asphyxia due to strangulation with blunt force injuries."
The police affidavit revealed White is married to another woman, with whom he has another child. And he is required to pay child support for the 2-year-old he had with LaDuke, the affidavit said.
Witnesses told police they had heard White say on at least one occasion that he was going to kill LaDuke. They also heard him say it would be better if LaDuke would just disappear, the affidavit said.
A neighbor of LaDuke was speechless when she heard about her death.
"Oh my goodness," said the neighbor who last spoke to LaDuke three weeks ago. "I'm just in shock right now."
Schofield Barracks spokesman Griffin had said they are cooperating with the Honolulu Police Department on the investigation. Griffin declined further comment.
The neighbor, who declined to give her name, said she would baby-sit LaDuke's son, whom she called "D," when LaDuke worked late hours.
She recalled LaDuke saying the father of her son did not want anything to do with her or her baby.
"He never came around," said the neighbor, who lived on the second floor above LaDuke's apartment on Melekule Street in Schofield Barracks. She said LaDuke later moved to another unit within Schofield Barracks.
LaDuke's mother, Judy, moved in with her for a while to help her during her pregnancy, according to the neighbor.
Her neighbor said LaDuke was deployed to Iraq for seven months and returned earlier this year.
"She's been back about six months," she said.
She described LaDuke as a nice woman who enjoyed listening to rap music and was a caring mother.