Mysterious Death Of U.S. Soldier in Honduras Prompts Joint Investigation: 'An Irreparable Tragedy'

A 25-year-old U.S. Army officer stationed in Honduras was found dead last weekend on the banks of the Chiquito River in Comayagua, approximately five miles from Soto Cano Air Base, where he was stationed.

The body of 1st Lt. Angelo Marciano Parisano, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was discovered while he was on authorized leave from the base. Honduran National Police, which lead the investigation, have ruled out robbery as a motive and have identified suspects, although no further details have been released pending investigation.

Authorities reported that Parisano's body was found after a local resident alerted emergency personnel responding to a nearby brush fire, as reported by local news outlet La Tribuna. Police recovered a partially destroyed cell phone believed to belong to the deceased, which will undergo forensic analysis to determine whether fire or another factor caused the damage.

Surveillance footage from the surrounding area is being reviewed to reconstruct Parisano's final movements, starting from the last location where he was seen accompanied by others to the site where his body was found.

Honduran police stated that they are pursuing several lines of inquiry supported by forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts. General Commissioner Miguel Martínez Madrid confirmed the existence of suspects but withheld their identities to avoid compromising the investigation, as reported by local news outlet La Prensa.

Lt. Parisano was a native of Cibolo, Texas, and a 2023 graduate of West Point. He completed aviation training at Fort Novosel in Alabama and received his commission as first lieutenant in November 2024. Soto Cano was his first duty assignment, as CBS News explains. During his service, he earned several distinctions, including the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), Air Assault Badge, and Army Aviation Wings (ABC News, U.S. Embassy in Honduras).

In a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Honduras, officials expressed condolences to Parisano's family and emphasized the significance of his contributions to the mission at Soto Cano:

"As a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the 228th Aviation Regiment, his contribution to our team was invaluable. He will be deeply missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him and serving alongside him. The command team extends its most sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. We share in their grief during this difficult time. The loss of a soldier is always an irreparable tragedy"