A Washington woman and her U.S. Army soldier fiancé are accused of killing an Army veteran and dumping his body near a military base after a dispute over what authorities described as “inappropriate” images of the woman found on the victim’s phone.
Aydee Casado-Dominguez, 21, and Humberto Rodriguez Hernandez, also 21, have been charged with second-degree murder, unlawful disposal of human remains and six counts of second-degree identity theft in connection with the disappearance and death of Army veteran Caelick Bradley, according to online court records.
The investigation began on June 12, when Bradley’s mother contacted police in Tacoma and asked officers to perform a welfare check on her son, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Bradley had been expected to move back to Virginia on June 10, but his mother became alarmed after not hearing from him since June 7.
Friends reportedly told investigators that Bradley had previously been in a relationship with Casado-Dominguez that they described as “abusive.”
The affidavit alleges that Casado-Dominguez had been sending Bradley threatening messages and wanted Hernandez to fight him.
When questioned, Casado-Dominguez allegedly told authorities that she last saw Bradley on June 8. She claimed he had texted her to say he was going to meet a friend but had gotten a flat tire. She said she later tried to contact him but never received a response.
Investigators obtained a warrant for Bradley’s banking records and discovered that his card had allegedly been used after he disappeared.
On June 11, a $286.90 purchase was made at a Walmart Supercenter in Lakewood. Two additional transactions at the store were declined, while several other suspicious purchases also appeared on the account, according to the affidavit.
Detectives reviewed store surveillance footage and allegedly saw Hernandez using Bradley’s financial information to make purchases totaling $749.65.
Hernandez was arrested and initially charged with identity theft for using Bradley’s credit card and other account information.
During questioning, Hernandez allegedly told police that Casado-Dominguez had given him the card and that he “just went with it.”
When investigators asked where Bradley was, Hernandez allegedly admitted that he was dead and led detectives to the location near the military base where his body had been left.
Authorities found Bradley’s body wrapped in blankets and secured with ratchet straps, according to the affidavit.
Hernandez allegedly told police that Casado-Dominguez claimed Bradley had come to her apartment and confronted her about his possession of “inappropriate pictures of her” on his phone.
According to Hernandez’s account, Casado-Dominguez said Bradley became physical and pushed her. She allegedly claimed that she fired a shot at him while she was falling.
“She fired a shot at him as she was falling,” the affidavit states.
Casado-Dominguez allegedly said she offered to take Bradley to a hospital, but he later died on the couch.
Authorities allege that Casado-Dominguez and Hernandez then drove Bradley’s body to the area near the base and disposed of it. The affidavit claims Casado-Dominguez left her 2-year-old son alone while they carried out the plan.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. They are each being held on $1 million bond.
It was not immediately clear whether either had hired an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
A GoFundMe created after Bradley went missing described him as an Army veteran who served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord from 2017 to 2023 with B Company, 2-158 Aviation Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the Night Stalkers.
“He was a proud member of the Nightstalker Association,” the fundraiser stated.
And they are supposed to be people that we should trust.Life with out parole
These people are in the military and don’t know how to behave? It’s just disturbing….