BOSTON -- Family members of a National Guard soldier who died in a secure area of Afghanistan met with Army investigators for four hours and were reassured they were doing all they could to determine how the woman died, the relatives said Thursday.
Spc. Ciara Durkin, 30, of Quincy, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to her head in a secure area of Bagram Airfield on Friday.
Her family at first complained that the Army provided conflicting information about her death, telling them she was killed "in action," then later saying she died in a "non-combat related incident." They also said the Army was withholding copies of the autopsy report and her will.
Durkin's sister Fiona Canavan told the Patriot Ledger of Quincy that Durkin said she had seen some things "she didn't like and made some enemies because of it." The family has discounted the possibility of suicide, saying Durkin was upbeat during her last visit home in September.
The case drew Congressional attention, with U.S. Sens. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy and U.S. Rep. William Delahunt urging Army officials to be more forthcoming with the Durkin family.
Army investigators met with the family in their home on Wednesday.
"The family is confident that the Army is conducting a thorough investigation of Ciara's death and intends to give the Army time to complete its inquiry," the family said in a statement. They did not return repeated phone messages left by The Associated Press for additional comment.
The Army's Criminal Investigation Command is probing the death, although that does not necessarily mean foul play is involved, spokesman Chris Gary said.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which represents gay and lesbian military personnel, also has called for a thorough investigation. Durkin was openly a lesbian, Canavan told The Boston Globe.
Durkin joined the Army National Guard in Oct. 2005 after getting laid off from her job. She was assigned to the 726th Finance Battalion of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, where she helped make sure soldiers got paid.
Durkin's body was flown back to Massachusetts on Thursday. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday at St. John's Church in Quincy.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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