{"id":32746,"date":"2019-09-24T00:20:59","date_gmt":"2019-09-24T00:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/24\/investigators-probing-four-suicides-involving-carrier-crew\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:27:13","slug":"investigators-probing-four-suicides-involving-carrier-crew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/09\/24\/investigators-probing-four-suicides-involving-carrier-crew\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigators probing four suicides involving carrier crew"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hampton Roads authorities have joined federal law enforcement agents investigating the recent suicide deaths of four sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although two of the sailors killed themselves on the same day, Navy officials have distanced themselves from internet rumors describing their deaths as an \u201cepidemic.\u201d They insist authorities in Portsmouth, Norfolk and Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents haven\u2019t been able to link the deaths to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe sailors did not serve in the same departments, and there does not appear to be a connection between their deaths,\u201d said Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg \u2014 the spokeswoman for Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic <\/a>\u2014 in a prepared statement emailed to Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No enlisted or commissioned leaders have been relieved or reassigned in the wake of the suicides, Cragg added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Rear Adm. Stephen Evans, left, commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 and Rear Adm. Sara A. Joyner, right, take a tour of the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush on Aug. 26 in Portsmouth. The warship is at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its Docking Planned Incremental Availability. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stuart A. Posada\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Norfolk Police began investigating the death of Machinist\u2019s Mate 3rd Class Robert John Bartulewicz III on July 16. His was the first suicide involving a Bush crew member since late 2017, Cragg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, authorities in Norfolk and Portsmouth ruled three more deaths \u2014 one on Sept. 14, two on Sept. 19 \u2014 as suicides: Chief Electronics Technician (Nuclear) James Harold Shelton, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Vincent Michael Forline and Airman Ethan Thomas Lee Stuart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No deaths occurred on the carrier, which is at Norfolk Naval Shipyard undergoing 28 months of Docking Planned Incremental Availability<\/a> repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cragg said that carrier\u2019s commissioned and enlisted leaders are \u201cengaged with their crew and focused on taking care\u201d of sailors and their families. Chaplains, psychologists and counselors are helping those who are grieving and a special psychiatric rapid intervention team \u2014 SPRINT \u2014 is on board the vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a crew and as a family, they are grieving,” said Cragg. \u201cThey are supporting each other, and are comforting those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next of kin have been notified and Navy officials have asked reporters to respect their privacy while they mourn the deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy records indicate that between Jan. 1 and Sept. 5 \u2014 the last official update \u2014 46 active duty and four reservists died by suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both the number of suicides and the rate of the self-inflicted deaths in the sea service have increased steadily since 2016, when 52 sailors died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, the Navy recorded 68 active duty suicides \u2014 about \u200b20.7 per 100,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For comparison, officials point to the most recently available and demographically adjusted civilian rate from 2016, which lists 26.8 suicides per 100,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rate is adjusted to reflect the relatively larger number of men aged 17 to 60 in the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September is Suicide Awareness Month throughout the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Vincent Forline<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Originally from California, Shelton enlisted on Sept. 14, 1999, and served on board sister aircraft carrier Nimitz before reporting to the George H.W. Bush on March 9, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His decorations included the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forline enlisted in late 2007 out of Connecticut. He served on board sister Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan from 2008 to 2013 and ashore at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California and Nevada\u2019s Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center before reporting to the Bush on Nov. 25, 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His decorations included the Enlisted Aviation and Surface Warfare Specialist pins, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal, according to his military records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Virginia, Bartulewicz<\/a> enlisted in 2017 and reported to the carrier on Jan. 7, 2018, following his Navy schooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He became a petty officer on Jan. 16 and wore the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin, according to his military records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no hometown listed on Stuart\u2019s records provided to Navy Times, but he enlisted on June 7, 2018, and reported to the Bush less than four months later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crew also is mourning the death of Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate (Fuels) Airman Juan Gerardo Medina-Reynaga<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was shot to death on Aug. 2 by Naval Security Forces following what officials said was a high speed chase across Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story<\/a> and a scuffle after he crashed his 2016 Dodge Charger at a Navy Exchange mini-mart.<\/p>\n\n\n\t