Parents Of Double-Murder Victims Heartbroken That Domestic Terrorist Isaac Aguigui Was Not Prosecuted Sooner

NEW YORK, March 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pvt. Isaac Aguigui was convicted by a military judge of murdering his wife and unborn child on July 17, 2011, nearly five months before he orchestrated the murders of teenage sweethearts Michael Roark and Tiffany York.

For the families of the young couple, the Army's failure to take action against Aguigui before he murdered again is incomprehensible.  "The Army has yet to offer any explanation for why it took so long to bring these charges," says W. Brett Roark, Michael Roark's father.  "The Army had enough evidence to convict Aguigui beyond a reasonable doubt, but instead paid hundreds of thousands of dollars [of life insurance proceeds] to a murderer."

Evidence from the court martial showed that just hours before his wife died, Aguigui sent a text to a former girlfriend bragging that "[w]e'll have plenty of money" and "[a]ll I need is your body whenever I want it."  Aguigui later received $100,000 from the Army to cover funeral costs and other expenses, and another $400,000 from his wife's insurance policy.  According to state prosecutors, Aguigui used these proceeds from his wife's murder to finance a terrorist militia he called F.E.A.R. (Forever Enduring, Always Ready).  Federal investigators knew that Aguigui was stockpiling weapons weeks before he ordered the murder of Michael Roark and Tiffany York, yet allowed him to remain free to concoct his murderous plans from within the U.S. Army. 

Parents of the slain couple filed an administrative claim pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) against the Army last summer.  The claim seeks compensation for their wrongful deaths.  The families contend that the Army was negligent when it failed to put a stop to Aguigui's terroristic ambitions before the murders, even after he murdered his wife and unborn child.  The Army has not yet responded to the claim. The law firm of Clinton Brook & Peed is currently preparing a lawsuit on behalf of the parents in the Western District of Washington.

Requests for further comments or client interviews should be directed to Brian C. Brook, tel: (212) 328-9559, email: [email protected].

SOURCE Clinton Brook & Peed