2 Fort Jackson drill sergeants from Alabama found dead eight days apart

Fort Jackson is mourning the loss of two drill sergeants after both were found dead just days apart on base.

They have been identified by the Army as Staff Sgt. Zachary Melton, 30, of Huntsville and Staff Sgt. Allen Burtram, 34, of Cleveland.

Burtram was found dead on the South Carolina base Dec. 8; Melton was found in his car on the post Dec. 16.

The Army Criminal Investigations Division is investigating. The two deaths are unrelated and there is no apparent evidence of foul play, the Army said.

“As a Fort Jackson community, we are mourning the tragic loss of two of our drill sergeants within the past few weeks,” said Brig. Gen. Jason E. Kelly, commanding general of Fort Jackson. “While there are several ongoing investigations into the specifics of each of these deaths, we are taking very deliberate steps to ensure our resiliency resource offerings are adequate and responsive.”