PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. – The Marines have dismissed two officials at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island in the aftermath of a recruit's death in March.
Corps spokesman Capt. Joshua Pena tells news outlets that Col. Paul D. Cucinotta was relieved of command Monday following an investigation into the death of 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui of Taylor, Michigan.
Cucinotta was responsible for recruit training and had relieved Lt. Col. Joshua Kissoon of command on March 31.
Sgt. Maj. Nicholas A. Deabreu was also dismissed. Deabreu was the sergeant major of Siddiqui's recruit training regiment.
The Naval Criminal Investigation Service says Siddiqui was undergoing basic training when he fell nearly 40 feet in a stairwell. NCIS says its investigation is ongoing and that no foul play is suspected.
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