Family of soldier found dead speaks out

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - The family of Gregory Wedel Morales says they still have questions over what led to his death.

“It gives us the closure in that we know where he was at,” his brother, Nick Wedel, said.

“Now it just opens up fresh wounds.”

Wedel says when he was told his brother’s remains were found on Friday, memories of a brother he loved flooded back.

“Just listening to country music on the way to school, talking and relaxing gave me joy,” he said.

“We always would take the back roads and just talk about life.”

Morales disappeared in August of last year, just two weeks before he was supposed to end his service of six years.

At first, the Army declared him as AWOL. 30 days later, deserter status.

His brother claims it wasn’t until a few months later that the Army started looking at it as a missing person’s case.

“Just because he doesn’t show up for formation one day, they suspected he ran away two weeks before he’s supposed to out-process? Really, we did all the leg work the first couple of months,” he said.

Investigators say foul play is suspected in Morales’ death and an autopsy has been ordered.

Wedel says he hopes that will answer questions that linger.

“You don’t want to remember him as some guy that showed up in a field,” he said

“Moving on for me right now isn’t going to happen until the family and I have answers and find out what happened to him.”

Army officials say they’ll provide a timeline of events in the case on Tuesday.

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