Morphine overdose killed soldier

TUCSON - A Fort Huachuca soldier died of a morphine overdose earlier this year at the Army base's medical barracks, an investigation has concluded, and authorities were trying to determine who provided the drug.

Pfc. Eli Baker, 22, had recently finished boot camp and still was in training when he was found dead Jan. 28 in Fort Huachuca's Warrior Transition Unit.

The unit provides medical and mental-health support for soldiers wounded in action or for troops recovering from other medical conditions.

"We have reason to believe that someone supplied him with that morphine, but he was not prescribed that morphine," said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

The Army investigation determined that the death was a negligent homicide, but Grey said it will be up to Fort Huachuca officials to decide whether if charges will be filed.

Baker, from Foothill Ranch in Orange County, Calif., was the second soldier to have been found dead in the fort's Warrior Transition Unit this year.

Pvt. Paul Muse, 22, of Sperry, Okla., was found dead in his bed Nov. 8 during a morning inspection at the unit.

Muse's father has said his son had been recovering from surgery to remove a brain stem tumor.

Grey said Muse's death still was under investigation.