Reward offered after remains of Fort Bragg paratrooper found on barrier island

SHACKLEFORD BANKS, N.C. — Authorities in North Carolina say they have identified human remains that were discovered on a barrier island.

U.S. Army officials at Fort Bragg identified the remains as those of Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez, who was reported missing May 23.

Cape Lookout National Seashore officials said rangers found the remains on May 29 after they washed up on Shackleford Banks.

Local news outlets reported the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division is now offering a reward of up to $15,000 to anyone with information that leads to the "apprehension and conviction of the person responsible for the homicide” of Roman-Martinez.

According to the Army, the medical examiner was able to make a positive identification using the soldier’s dental records.

Roman-Martinez was last seen on May 22 at a campsite on South Core Banks and his friends reported him missing on May 23. Officials said his phone and wallet were found at the campsite. He was last seen wearing blue shorts and no shirt.

Remains discovered in wooded area after man reported missing in Caldwell County Remains discovered in wooded area after man reported missing in Caldwell County

Authorities said Roman-Martinez did not tell anyone where he was going when he disappeared from the campsite and he did not have anything with him.

Crews looked for Roman-Martinez for nearly a week before suspending their search efforts on June 2. The remains were found the weekend of May 30 and were turned over to the state medical examiner’s office.

The effort to find the California-native involved both local and federal agencies -- the National Park Service, the Army Criminal Investigations Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, the N.C. Marine Patrol, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office canine team and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office.

If you have information about this case, authorities said to call Army CID Special Agents at 910-396-8777.

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