Iraq war veteran found dead in local jail cell identified

An inmate who was found dead Monday in his cell at the Bell County Jail was identified Thursday as a veteran of two deployments to Iraq.

Sgt. Marcus Lamarr Nelson Sr., 45, of Detroit, Mich., was had been assigned to Fort Hood’s 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division since June 2015.

He deployed to Iraq from September 2006 to September 2007 and again from October 2008 to September 2009.

Bell County deputies and investigators from the Texas Attorney General’s office, are investigating the death.

It is still not clear how Nelson died.

An autopsy was ordered, Bell County Chief Deputy Sheriff Chuck Cox said.

Nelson was held for authorities at Fort Hood, where he was facing multiple charges including one count of departing a place of duty, one count of disobeying an order, four counts of dereliction of duty, and four counts of communicating a threat.