Fort Hood soldier arrested in woman's death over a year ago

Fort Hood commander removed as Army begins new probe into Vanessa Guillen case

An active-duty soldier at Fort Hood in Texas has been charged with murdering a 32-year-old woman over a year ago. Killeen, Texas police say Spc. Corey Grafton, 20, was arrested Tuesday afternoon in the July 2019 death of Chelsea Cheatham.

Chelsea Cheatham in undated photo Law enforcement/KWTX-TV

Police said Cheatham was found unconscious in a Days Inn and wasn't breathing. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Killeen police said homicide detectives got a tip that Grafton was at the scene when Cheatham was killed.

Spc. Corely Grafton, Fort Hood soldier KWTX-TV

And one of Grafton's co-workers provided a statement saying Grafton confessed to killing Cheatham, according to CBS Waco, Texas affiliate KWTX-TV, citing authorities.

Killeen police said the Texas Rangers helped them get DNA from the murder scene. When it proved a match to DNA found on Cheatham's body, Grafton was taken into custody.

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