Colonie Soldier's Mom Pledges to Investiate Death

The mother of a local soldier who died in Iraq maintains that her daughter did not commit suicide despite an Army pathologist’s findings, and she said she will now launch a private investigation.

Sgt. Amy Seyboth Tirador, 29, of Colonie died Nov. 4 at a military base in Kirkush, Iraq. Her family said the Department of Defense told them Tirador died of a single gunshot wound to the head. Her body was found in the base’s generator room.

Tirador’s mother, Colleen Murphy, said Amy’s father received the results of a military investigation into the death, including Amy’s death certificate, which states the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She said they were led to believe the investigation had been completed.

Murphy has openly refuted the possibility that Amy killed herself on numerous occasions. At a press conference last month, Murphy said she felt the Army was trying to build up potential domestic problems and work issues in Amy’s life to make a suicide ruling seem more plausible. Amy’s husband, Michael Tirador, was living at the Caldwell Forward Operating Base where Amy was stationed at the time of her death.

Murphy has also denied any history of depression or substance abuse in her daughter’s past.

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Phone Calls Put Two Soldiers to Rest

May 17, 1983, a young soldier from Portland, James R. Williams, was killed in Korea.

Jim's platoon leader, Tom O'Sullivan, heard the explosions and saw the flames shooting from the tank. Tom crawled into the tank, across molten metal. He cradled Jim in his arms and lifted him out of the tank. Jim died soon after.

For 25 years, Tom wanted to speak to Jim's family in Portland about Jim's death.

In 1983 the Army said no, Tom could not contact the fami ly. After he left the military, Tom searched for years for Jim's relatives.

One, a retired police detective who now works as a private investigator, was able to find Jim Williams' father within "10 to 15 minutes," she says.