Missing Army Cpl. Hayden Harris found dead in New Jersey after 'vehicle exchange' with fellow soldier, officials say

A U.S. Army soldier who went missing from Fort Drum in upstate New York has been found dead in New Jersey and a fellow soldier has been taken into custody in connection with his death.

The body of Hayden Harris was found in a wooded area in Byram Township on Saturday afternoon, Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller said. U.S. Army officials gave little detail beyond confirming Harris' death in a press release on Sunday afternoon.

Harris was last seen between 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 6:30 a.m. Dec. 18, according to Army officials.

Mueller said Harris was meeting with fellow soldier, Jamaal Mellish, 23, in Watertown, New York, near Fort Drum for "some type of vehicle exchange" when the meeting escalated.

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Authorities believe Mellish "abducted" Harris in Harris' 2017 white Chevrolet Silverado and drove him to the New York City area and eventually across the state, Mueller said. A juvenile, whose identity has not been released, was also in the vehicle, authorities said.

Mueller said Harris was killed in the wooded area in Byram.

Byram firefighters stumbled upon the scene Saturday when they noticed personal belongings near the Ross Road cul-de-sac, including a pair of shoes. They notified Byram police when they found blood, Mueller said.
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