Soldier's Father Speaks Out

Hazing & Torment Allegedly led to Suicide

Private Keifer Wilhelm of Fort Bliss killed himself in Iraq earlier this month.
Four of his fellow soldiers stand accused of extreme cruelty related ot his death.
Wilhem's father spoke to Newschannel about his son's death and their family's mission.
Shane Wilhelm says the anger he feels because of what happened to his son is driving him to bring attention to the case.
Keiffer, 19, had only been in Iraq for 10 days when he used his M-16 rifle to shoot and kill himself.
Since his death, keiffer's father has been forced to imagine the kind of pain his son was in to take such a drastic step.
After leaving bootcamp in April, Shane says keifer was excited about being deployed.
Their family has a long line of military service.
But, while in Iraq, military leaders allege Keiffer suffered extreme hazing and torture from a group of his fellow soldiers.
His father says there's no way Keiffer would have taken his own life unless the treatment was unbearable.
Shane is now on a crusade to bring attention to the case.

The family has set up a Memorial Fund in Keiffer's name.

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