Air Force Capt. Kills Herself 'After Being Sexually Assaulted In Afghanistan'
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An Air Force Reserve captain whose family believe she was sexually assaulted in Afghanistan killed herself using her handgun.
Jamie Brunette, from Tampa, Florida, was found dead on February 9 by Tampa police in the back of her locked sedan near her apartment.
It appears the 30-year-old killed herself with her Smith & Wesson .380 handgun, which she purchased about six months earlier according to police, reports the Tampa Tribune.
The news shocked her family as Brunette, who left active duty after 11 years last June and joined the Air Force Reserve, had not shown any signs of being suicidal and was in the middle of opening her new fitness business.
'She had so much going for her,' says Jackie Leverich, 40, Brunette's oldest sister.
'She was so full of hope and wonderment and passion and excitement for life.'
To the outside world Brunette appeared happy - the week before her death she was posting photos of her studio being built with the caption 'Doing work today!'.
It was due to open in a few weeks time and Brunette was part owner/part instructor.
But Leverich says she believes something traumatic happened to her sister in Afghanistan, saying the family noticed a change in Brunette on her return at her sister's wedding.
'She seemed upbeat,' says Leverich, 'but she wasn't really giving us a whole lot of detail about life and what was going on.'
Leverich says she suspects that her sister was sexually assaulted in Afghanistan - she does not have any proof, but believes there was an incident.
'I suspect she was assaulted, and she didn't feel comfortable reporting it for some reason and internalized the incident so she could finish her deployment, which she did with flying colors,' says Leverich.
'It's not anything she told me, just from talking with all her friends this past week, and piecing those things together.
'I am female active duty, 18 years in the Coast Guard. I am well aware of those issues, and that's my gut feeling.'
The following year Brunette left active duty and opted for the Air Force Reserve.
Air Force Lt. Col Kurt Spranger, her business partner told the Tampa Tribune: 'I do not know the detail, but unequivocally I can say, yes, something happened, something that should never happen to a human,' says Spranger.
'Something happened and it was why she wanted to get out. So she wouldn't have to deploy again.'
He said Brunettte had split with her boyfriend two weeks before her death, but she did not give any signs of being outwardly unhappy and was professional at all times.
The Hillsborough County medical examiner's initial report states that Brunette had a 'long tobacco and alcohol abuse history' and was suffering from depression and anxiety.
Her roommate said Brunette had confided in her that she was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the VA and had been depressed.
The VA, citing privacy issues, could not comment.
A memorial page set up online has been inundated with comments.
One user wrote: 'She was a wonderful, bright, positive, professional, Contingency Contracting Officer and Airmen. She was so young and so full of life and I feel great sadness from the squadron that loved her very much.'
Another user wrote: 'I recently met Jamie at Orange Theory in Largo. I was so impressed while talking to her - articulate, respectful, courteous and interesting. She was full of life and excited about getting her business up and running.'
MailOnline has contacted the US Air Force for a comment.
Jamie Brunette, from Tampa, Florida, was found dead on February 9 by Tampa police in the back of her locked sedan near her apartment.
It appears the 30-year-old killed herself with her Smith & Wesson .380 handgun, which she purchased about six months earlier according to police, reports the Tampa Tribune.
The news shocked her family as Brunette, who left active duty after 11 years last June and joined the Air Force Reserve, had not shown any signs of being suicidal and was in the middle of opening her new fitness business.
'She had so much going for her,' says Jackie Leverich, 40, Brunette's oldest sister.
'She was so full of hope and wonderment and passion and excitement for life.'
To the outside world Brunette appeared happy - the week before her death she was posting photos of her studio being built with the caption 'Doing work today!'.
It was due to open in a few weeks time and Brunette was part owner/part instructor.
But Leverich says she believes something traumatic happened to her sister in Afghanistan, saying the family noticed a change in Brunette on her return at her sister's wedding.
'She seemed upbeat,' says Leverich, 'but she wasn't really giving us a whole lot of detail about life and what was going on.'
Leverich says she suspects that her sister was sexually assaulted in Afghanistan - she does not have any proof, but believes there was an incident.
'I suspect she was assaulted, and she didn't feel comfortable reporting it for some reason and internalized the incident so she could finish her deployment, which she did with flying colors,' says Leverich.
'It's not anything she told me, just from talking with all her friends this past week, and piecing those things together.
'I am female active duty, 18 years in the Coast Guard. I am well aware of those issues, and that's my gut feeling.'
The following year Brunette left active duty and opted for the Air Force Reserve.
Air Force Lt. Col Kurt Spranger, her business partner told the Tampa Tribune: 'I do not know the detail, but unequivocally I can say, yes, something happened, something that should never happen to a human,' says Spranger.
'Something happened and it was why she wanted to get out. So she wouldn't have to deploy again.'
He said Brunettte had split with her boyfriend two weeks before her death, but she did not give any signs of being outwardly unhappy and was professional at all times.
The Hillsborough County medical examiner's initial report states that Brunette had a 'long tobacco and alcohol abuse history' and was suffering from depression and anxiety.
Her roommate said Brunette had confided in her that she was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the VA and had been depressed.
The VA, citing privacy issues, could not comment.
A memorial page set up online has been inundated with comments.
One user wrote: 'She was a wonderful, bright, positive, professional, Contingency Contracting Officer and Airmen. She was so young and so full of life and I feel great sadness from the squadron that loved her very much.'
Another user wrote: 'I recently met Jamie at Orange Theory in Largo. I was so impressed while talking to her - articulate, respectful, courteous and interesting. She was full of life and excited about getting her business up and running.'
MailOnline has contacted the US Air Force for a comment.
Comments
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'It's not anything she told me, just from talking with all her friends this past week, and piecing those things together.
'I am female active duty, 18 years in the Coast Guard. I am well aware of those issues, and that's my gut feeling.'
Air Force Lt. Col Kurt Spranger, her business partner told the Tampa Tribune: 'I do not know the detail, but unequivocally I can say, yes, something happened, something that should never happen to a human,' says Spranger.
'Something happened and it was why she wanted to get out. So she wouldn't have to deploy again.'
Well, you gotta either say it or dont mention it at all.
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So they just assume ? ? Smh
Could've been something else. She was in Afghanistan after all. -
One way or another RIP. Hell of a hunch though, not saying it couldn't or didn't happen but damn.
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Smash In Piece
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nawledge_? wrote: »Smash In Piece
That's wrong lol -
Or she was just a weak individual that took her life.
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kingblaze84 wrote: »nawledge_? wrote: »Smash In Piece
That's wrong lol
Thats Why I Put It In A Spoiler....Trying To Kept It Respectful -
If I notice a change in someone, I aint gonna automatically assume that person got sexually assaulted.
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The family says it was a hunch, kinda out of thin air. But the busniess partner says he's unequivocably sure it was sexual assualt, and 'something that no person should have done to them'
Well that means he knows exactly what it was, bu the aitn tellin.
My hunch is: Sounds like he and maybe others know, but whoever is feedin the family info didnt tell the family all the details. I've noticed when something tragic happens, family rarely knows even half of the details of their adult child's life.
Somewhere in this story the friends are hiding somehtign that was either embarassing for the victim, or their protecting someone. -
She should have used that .380 on whoever it was that assaulted her.
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So she never accused anyone of ? and their was no evidence of ? ?
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She just got done watching that Call Me Crazy huh?
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I was going to make fun of her because she white, but I changed my mind when I seen how pretty she is. - ? .
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Allah_U_Akbar wrote: »If I notice a change in someone, I aint gonna automatically assume that person got sexually assaulted.
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Well....Leverich says she suspects that her sister was sexually assaulted in Afghanistan - she does not have any proof, but believes there was an incident. -
The user and all related content has been deleted.
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Chair force been not about that life.
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She should of been bumping Keith Sweat.
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meh
people always blaming someone else
maybe it was maybe it wasnt
but the family wants to make a narrative or agenda
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? rates in the US air force are very high. So given her beauty thebodds are high. Damn women in Bagrahm airfield couldnt go to take a ? at night without armed ? .
Though she suffered from anxiety and depression. There are little chances she crossed the line by committing suicide. Still its possible.
Thats why i respect @Pico for what she does. Its not easy for these females ... -
RIP.
Yeah this vague as hell. -
She probably clapped a 5 year old for bringing her a bomb. That sit will ? you up, especially a woman.
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TheEyeronic1 wrote: »
thats a pretty strong hunch to have without being told or tipped off in some sort of way.
Not when you're aware of the statistics . -
no possibility of drug use?
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Show of hands....if you have a .380 are you going to ? yourself or the person who wronged you? Those are your only options. Life is ? up.... it's ? that's innocent doing life that won't ? themselves.
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