But we must be honest about what it really is: the result of violent, divisive rhetoric that is all too common across our country. Michael Hills represented Caserta in federal court for the kidnappings conspiracy charge. Duane Whitmer on June 18, 2018, showed the abuse hadn't stopped. They told him that he needs to suck it up and that he was fine.. According tocourt records, Caserta and his cohorts held field training exercises and plotted the kidnapping in the basement of a vacuum shop near Grand Rapids. Patrick Caserta says this statement means the command never had any intention of allowing his son to transfer ratings. . The Brandon Act is designed to protect service members who experience mental health emergencies and reduce the stigma around reporting. He uses the term "murder" to describe what they did to his son. Neither do his alleged cohorts, who are fighting to keep the jury from hearing those comments, which are part of avideothat prosecutors want to show jurors when the case goes to trial in October. In 2018, the 21-year-old Navy petty officer third class killed himself. We feel he is smiling down on us right now.. James served in the Army for 6 years. He touched so many lives in such a short time. After their son died by suicide in the Navy, the couple lobbied Congress for legislation to expand mental health services to members of the military. 54 talking about this. If he wasn't doing sports, he was working out. In the case of Brandon, that (getting mental health help) was not an option, Kelly said. On Count 2: Weapon. The suicide rate has steadily increased in the armed forces in the past four years: in 2019, the rate was 25.9 per 100,000 active duty members, up from 24.9 per 100,000 in 2018 and 21.9 per 100,000 in 2017. Gonzalez, who has interned with Donor Network of Arizona and reported for The State Press, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. While post-mortem analyses of suicides usually show that the victim faced major issues -- financial or relationship problems, medical issues, mental health conditions -- leaders can and do play a substantial role, according to research conducted by Dave Matsuda, an anthropologist at California State University-East Bay who studied a suicide cluster among soldiers in Iraq in 2010. But HSC-28 was having none of it. An investigation later showed that Brandon had been recommended for disciplinary review because of an issue over a drivers license and his lead petty officer had created a hostile work environment by being belligerent. After the verdict was announced, the judge said Harris and Caserta would be free to leave. Services also are available online atwww.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. If convicted, the men could face up to life in prison. He biked everywhere he went. Rodrguez currently also works at Arizona PBS. With the jury deadlocked on charges against Adam Fox and Barry Croft, Jr.,the judge declared a mistrial on those counts. Every single person that works for government is your enemy, dude.. You just arent supposed to show those emotions. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It just wasnt enough. Posted on Oct 8, 2020Updated on Oct 8, 2020, 3:05 pm CDT. In a TikTok posted Wednesday, Caserta is shown wearing a Hawaiian shirt, which could be a signifier of the Boogaloo Boys, a militia bent on starting a second civil war. / CBS/AP. And the social media for one of them, Brandon Caserta, is filled with right-wing misinformation and violent memes. Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. We were able to have his legacy live on by the Brandon Act. After Casertas death, her husband sought mental health treatment. In the Whitmer case, Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. ", Caserta continues: "And if you guys are going to give any of these mother f------a chance, any of thesegang, f------criminal a--government thugs that rob people every day;ifyou're even going to give them a second to try to speak or tell their story,don't even f--- me, dude. "He was the kind of person that would drop whatever he was doing to help someone else. In four days, they mailed 700 letters to U.S. representatives and senators. Using a set of tweezers and creativity, Brandon constructed Star Wars characters such as BB-8. Brown said he would support the idea or similar measures. Being at HSC-28 didn't help: Caserta and his colleagues worked for a lead petty officer (LPO) who berated them publicly, frequently cursed at them and called them out for the slightest infraction. Seven of the defendants were linked to a militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen. We want to make things better for future generations.. Jurors reached a partial verdict Friday in the case of four men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Find a staff list and description of our beats here. But we were tasked with the simplicity that other parents face: Either you are against it and when he's 18, he joins anyway, or you support him and give him everything he needs to succeed, and we chose that route. "My take is they needed somebody to accompany Fox because Fox is a joke by himself so they needed the Wolverine Watchmen to give it credibility. The Casertas are focused on the widespread issue of suicides in the military. He could not get the help he needed. 2023 FOX Television Stations, issued a statement saying that the trial is normalizing political violence, DPD host walk to raise awareness on National Crime Victims Rights Week, WATCH - Jennifer Hammond was in Allen Park as the Lions introduced their 2023 first round picks, 'No Beef Zone in effect' by Detroit activists in Greektown to keep the peace. Holly Graf perhaps the most notorious. Feds: Whitmer kidnap suspect doesn't want public to hear God gave him OK, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Four years ago, the 21-year-old Navy petty officer third class killed himself on the flight line at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. The Brandon . And theyre treated like this? They can say Hey, I have a Brandon Act issue, and theres no questions, no repercussions, they will be given initial counseling and treatment that they need.. So, I know the occupational phenomenon that the command can absolutely burn you out, to make you quit. An annual DOD report, released in September, showed rates for active duty service members alone went from 20.3 suicides per 100,000 members in 2015 to 28.7 in 2020, with increases across all branches. They all turned a blind eye to [his] bullying and hatred toward Brandon and others," they wrote. Before his death, the report said, Brandon emailed two others, who were deployed at the time, wondering what was the meaning of life.. Among those is a plaque from the group Tribute to Fallen Soldiers. Editor's Note: This article contains a description of suicide. Shortly after the verdict, Whitmer's Chief of Staff JoAnne Huls, issued a statement saying that the trial is normalizing political violence: "Today, Michiganders and Americansespecially our childrenare living through the normalization of political violence. The video that prosecutors want to show at trialwas preceded by two other videos, according to court records, including one that Caserta livestreamed to Facebook involving a traffic stop with a Canton Police Officer. The unit held a memorial service four days later; Patrick and Teri say they weren't invited. "It's a bit like the Catholic Church and the sex abuse scandal," he added. Shortly after asking for help and after his wife filed an inspector general claim a captain from the HSC-28 command woke up her husband in the middle of the night and berated him. Without support, what followed next broke him. The Daily Dot has reached out to Facebook as to why. I mean we had volumes and hundreds and thousands of hours of recordings, and it just wasnt there. Let this (expletive)go down bro. "He literally dimed me out just to get me to man a deployment.". Brandon Caserta was one of 325 active-duty service members who died by suicide in 2018, and one of 68 sailors, according to military data. Whitmer's statement, which will be disclosed in federal court filings next month, included the following: Weve come to a dangerous moment in our nation where its not just about disagreement," Whitmer told Newsweek. He helped so many of his friends and was very supportive and compassionate. Caserta broke his collarbone while riding his bicycle, threatening his chance to make the move. My ears popped on the way down. He was bullied and hazed, retaliated against. Since Brandon's death, his parents Teri and Patrick have fought for legislation that would protect service members who feel abandoned by their leaders and need help. "There are all of these potential consequences, and while they are not common, they are common fears. I just reach out and ask them, What can I do for you? And of course I have to tell Brandons story, she said. A goofy, happy-go-lucky type, Caserta was usually the first to volunteer for "cleaning duty, aircraft wash or field day," squadron mates said. "Those who serve in the military are people like all of us, and they come in with different experiences, and the traumas that they have during their time in service are not just about the things they see and do during combat deployments," Springer said. Learn More About Macoy. In a Monday court filing, defense lawyers also cited a recent article in Newsweek magazine, in which "Whitmer says shes been in a pensive mood lately, having spent recent days writing a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of an anti-government extremist who took part in a plot to kidnap and kill her last year. The plot to kidnap and kill a governor may seem like an anomaly. If this were the case for Brandon, he would still be alive today," Moulton said. The Brandon Act is a step in the right direction.. And I've met several active duty sailors currently that have freely stated that they asked for a mental health evaluation, and under the mental health evaluation code, they were denied. The counts and jury decisions for Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Brandon Caserta and Daniel Harris are as follows: Adam Fox was charged with two counts. A self-proclaimed anarchist, he was accused of participating in the thwarted plot to kidnap 49th Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer while the world was battling the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. Brandon Hudson has more reaction after the court decision that found two suspects acquitted and two receiving a mistrial in the alleged plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge issued a statement saying, "Although we are disappointed the jury did not reach decisions in our favor, we continue to respect the jury trial system whatever the outcome. He'd been 72% complete. He only went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a license so he would have a state ID and could legally drive in an emergency. According to its website, Mission 22 is "dedicated to healing Americas veterans when they need it most right now. Mission 22 is one of the sponsors of the Brandon Act bill. He knew our background. Wrapping things up, President Biden assured everyone he could take a joke, but cautioned that Dark Brandon may not be so forgiving. "When I checked out of the command, I told them that if they kept treating people this way, they are going to have something really bad happen. Maricopa County Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 1-800-631-1314 or 602-222-9444. https://www.azahcccs.gov/BehavioralHealth/crisis.html, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The four members of anti-government groups are facing trial on federal charges accusing them in a plot to abduct Michigan's. He was always on the go. Caserta's LPO often "screamed, yelled and name-called" when sailors forgot to do something or made a mistake, and he would "throw fits worse than my toddler.". After withdrawing from the SEALs, Brandon was transferred to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia. "The climate [at the unit] was just go, go, go, do, do, do, we'll worry about any personal stuff later," MacMillan said. David Hecht, the public affairs officer for Naval Air Force Atlantic, said the LPO was placed in a leadership position after his dismissal from another supervisory role because the Navy believes in leadership opportunities and second chances. "Its about threats of violence.. Newsletter: Video declaring the easiest job in the world goes viral, Fake TikTok of Boston Dynamics robot fighting racks up millions of views, FTC chair warns AI can turbocharge fraud and discrimination, *First Published: Oct 8, 2020, 11:29 am CDT, How South Carolina became a troubling new hub for QAnon. They have met with congressional staff of a dozen senators and representatives, including Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, to discuss the treatment they and Brandon received, request an independent investigation and promote efforts to prevent suicide linked to toxic leadership. They have resumed the fight this year. The judge sent them back to continue their deliberations, encouraging them to "take another look, a fresh look." Caserta is one of five men facing federal conspiracy charges of plotting to kidnap Whitmer, largely fueled by anger over mask mandates and state restrictions on business and travel during the. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Reach out at [emailprotected]. ", The LPO eventually was transferred on June 28, 2018, three days after Caserta's death, and only after he was heard making "derogatory and inflammatory comments concerning the deceased.". Senior officials of HSC-28 bear the ultimate responsibility for their failures such as the decision to keep AE1 in charge. Another f------cop pulled me over on my way home from work, on my way home from work and f------robbed me again dude. It will also allow Americans serving in uniform to seek help confidentially and, if necessary, outside of the chain of command. They are being held in U.S. marshals'. The measure also mandates that the Department of Defense provide annual training on how to recognize when members may need a mental health evaluation. At a press conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Moulton said the Brandon Act would empower service members to manage their mental health during a crisis. ", "And guess what? This is the horrible, destructive climate we find ourselves in.. He could see things differently, and he always found ways to make things easier and better, which, Patrick said, made Brandon such a good fit for the military. Croft, Fox, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiracy; three of them also face weapons-related charges. It was harassment. ", More:Whitmer kidnap plot suspects face new charges: Weapons of mass destruction. So if if, you know, ifif we're doing a recon or something and we come up on some of them, dude,you better not give them a chance. He was incredibly in shape, Patrick Caserta said. Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta are being tried in federal court for their roles in an elaborate plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. And hes saving lives, Patrick said as he looked at a photo of Brandon in the living room. Whitmer kidnap plot suspects face new charges: Weapons of mass destruction. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. ", "There's no proof that strategy works," Matsuda said. In a lot of big organizations, theres always a resistance to change, Kelly said. There are several sailors on this base who are going through this.". Closed now : See all hours. They're dragging people along just trying to complete mission and chase their next rank.". Toxic command climate can most certainly trigger suicidal behavior.". 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The LPO officer and some of his peers also didnt take to his happygo-lucky attitude, Patrick said. He was on his high school freshman and sophomore years. On it, he showers praise on Kenosha, Wisconsin shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, calls coronavirus a hoax, and makes allusions to the QAnon conspiracy. Photos of Brandon Caserta decorate the Peoria home of his parents, Teri and Patrick. Clemons-Etheredge said her husband, who has served in the Navy for 16 years, doesn't feel like he can speak publicly about the issues within the HSC-28 command because he is still active duty. We've received your submission. ", Although not particularly familiar with the Brandon Act, Springer did say that it "may offer a critical pathway to ensure that people can step forward and get support in a truly safe and confidential way.". But the military needs to acknowledge their problem and do something about it.. He was LARPing," Gibbons said, using an acronym for live action role playing. The LPO remains at a unit in Norfolk. DOD 02/11/2019 Age 20 Marine Corps veteran Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Navy veteran Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., are among the sponsors of the Brandon Act: legislation that would give service members a safe phrase that would trigger an automatic referral to a mental health specialist for evaluation. How did this happen? He was really taken aback by the entire situation.. This year, the Philippines agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands. Hills said Kaleb Franks and Ty Garbin, two other suspects who were charged with the same crimes but pleaded guilty earlier this year, acted too fast. Boogaloo Boys are known to. First published on April 8, 2022 / 2:38 PM. It was difficult for her to get treatment, and James attempted suicide. But the fact that we respond and care, that just carries so much weight with people. I'm getting paid to work out,' Teri remembered. So, yeah, its been almost four years that thats what weve been doing.. The department is engaged in implementing a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention and is providing tailored resources to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. "They aren't leading anymore. Although well never get Brandon back, his legacy will be the lives of many more great Americans he saves through this bill, and Im proud of his parents who have fought so hard to tell his story and make this change.. I'm going to make this shit 100%clear, dude. Patrick Caserta recalled the passion Brandon had for building anything with his hands. If this whole thing, you know, startsto happen;I'm telling you what, dude, I'm taken out as many of those m----- ------s (expletive) as I can. Gretchen Whitmer railed that President Trump was a tyrant and called all government workers your enemy.. We cant bring him back. He died soon after that, on June 25, 2018. The trial for the four men accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. He played flag football for about 10 years and graduated to tackle football. When Brandon started SEAL training in San Diego, he excelled. On Wednesday, they urged all Americans to support the Brandon Act -- a "verbal 911" that may prevent similar tragedies. The proposal would trigger a referral for mental health treatment "as soon as practicable" once a service member mentioned that they needed help under the Brandon Act. Brandon touched more people than he realizes. He was always on the go. He learned that by doing this stuff.. But the investigating officer then recommended against mast, instead suggesting the aviation electrician's mate 1st class, or AE1, be transferred with a "declining" evaluation. Thats why they were pulling them together," Hills said. We appreciate the prosecutors and law enforcement officers for their work on this case.". Only one defendant,Harris, chose to testify in his own defense, and the four men deny any scheme to get Whitmer at her vacation home. The daily news products are produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. "Trump is not your friend dude and it amazes me that people actually like believe that," Brandon Caserta, one of the men charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, said in a video posted to Twitter Video circulating on social media appears to show Brandon Caserta expressing his anti-government and anti-Trump views. Cmdr. An investigation found that leadership at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia . Caserta's death was one of 68 Navy suicides in 2018. In the weeks leading up to Brandon Caserta's death, friends said little seemed amiss with the smiling sailor they knew from the "gedunk," or canteen, at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 out of Norfolk, Virginia. Hecht said manning issues did not play a role in any of the command's decisions. "The real strength of our military, the thing that matters most and the thing that sets us apart is our people," added Kelly. Sure, he regretted breaking a leg at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School two years before, an injury that forced him to drop out of training to become a SEAL, but he was a trouper nonetheless. And a senior chief went behind his back, calling the Bureau of Naval Personnel to prevent MacMillan from going to BUD/S. Military.com is not naming him as he has not been charged. "They killed him," he told Military.com. Brandon Casertas bedroom was left as it was except for a few gifts arranged on his bed. As you know, weve got a high rate of suicide in the veteran community and active duty. Gretchen Whitmer (D). While a single senator cannot prevent confirmations, a hold significantly delays confirmations because the Senate needs to All of these veterans, who used education benefits earned in the military to pay for the training, had signed agreements Copyright 2023 Military.com. "I believe Franks got scared, and rightfully so.". But in his suicide note, Caserta faulted the Navy, asking his parents to "go after the re-rate process" that put him in a job he hated, and expose what he saw as a flawed command. Brandon Caserta, Daniel Harris, Barry Croft and Adam Fox are all facing charges.. "Right from the beginning I kept looking for it. If this shit goes down, okay? Courtesy the Caserta Family Parents of sailor who died by suicide urge Pentagon to implement mental health measure named in his honor that became . Denitza James also works as a subcommittee chair for LULAC. He said: Somebody walked onto the flight line and killed themselves. On Count 2: Weapon of Mass Destruction: Daniel Harris was found NOT GUILTY, On Count 3: Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device: Daniel Harris was found NOT GUILTY, On Count 4: Possession of a Short Barrel Rifle: Daniel Harris was found NOT GUILTY. The agency is piloting a program in which service members complete an annual wellness check with a trained counselor, and its expanding another effort aimed at reducing stigma and barriers around seeking help. So we know hes happy with what were doing. "They would simply have to say, 'I have a Brandon Act concern.' @NotRadix and I are working on a documentary at this very moment, and we are exposing the injustices by these prosecutor's judge's cops and politicians. Without accountability, extremists will be emboldened," said the statement by Whitmer's chief of staff, JoAnne Huls. As for the two who pleaded guilty, Langton says they're "stupid" for doing so and acted too quickly. It amazes me that people actually, like, believe that when hes shown over and over and over again that hes a tyrant. 2023 Cronkite News. Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta is a white man from Michigan, United States. Services also are available online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. Lawyers for Harris and Caserta emphasized that neither man went to Elk Rapids with Croft and Fox to surveil Whitmer's home. After work, her husband retreated to his parents' house. As the Casertas began pushing for change, they set up a Facebook page about their son and the legislation he inspired. Brandon Caserta was one of 325 active-duty service members who died by suicide in 2018, and one of 68 sailors, according to military data. All rights reserved. In 2019, 348 active-duty service members died by suicide. And these are the guys who are actually doing it. These m----- ------s need to go 100%. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It requires a mental health evaluation for service members who self-report a need and allows members to seek help outside the chain of command and for cases to be kept confidential. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Brandon Caserta, 21, killed himself in 2018 by walking into a chopper tail rotor More than 200 sailors were moved off the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. Brandon Caserta was one of two acquitted of a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. He basically tasked us with changing the system, Teri said. It wasn't real to Adam Fox. Its unclear when the channel was taken down. LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, is also one of the sponsors of the Brandon Act bill. Every single one, dude, every single one. Valeria Rodrguez expects to graduate in May 2024 with a masters degree in mass communication. Asked why she decided to speak out, Clemons-Etheredge said, because I'm a civilian and tired of seeing people I care about not get mental health treatment, not get proper treatment in general. When Tony Finau was stacking . He worked out with a great bunch of guys who he helped and pushed so they could get their contracts as well. "And when you have harassment, or bullying, what that does is it takes a person and singles them out, which makes that service member feel like they are not a core part of that tribe. Patrick Caserta said the family was excluded out of sheer pettiness. The Casertas believe the command ordered a cessation of communications; the command investigation notes that most individuals decided to limit communications because it "wasn't helping the grieving process.". You know? Kent County Sheriff, Delaware Department of Justice via AP, DNA solves "decades-old mystery" after woman's remains found in 1995, $3 million fentanyl shipment to Maine restaurant prompts arrest, Arkansas woman indicted for selling stolen body parts to Pennsylvania man, Woman who left newborn to die next to Mississippi River learns fate, Harris, chose to testify in his own defense. Caserta's was one of three in Norfolk-based helicopter squadrons in the first half of the year alone. During summer recesses in Congress, Teri and Patrick have scheduled videoconferences and a few in-person meetings. It's hard to tell which version is accurate, but a text sent to Brandon's parents from a junior sailor on May 31, 2019 -- after the command learned that Military.com had made phone calls regarding the Casertas' allegations -- indicates a culture of fear at the squadron.
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