Fort Hood soldier sentenced to 26 years for wife’s murder

FORT HOOD, Texas (KWTX) — A Fort Hood soldier was sentenced to 26 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to murdering his wife during a domestic dispute earlier this year, U.S. Army officials said.

Staff Sgt. John Gitau Mwangi, 43, admitted to the unpremeditated murder of his wife, U.S. Army Sgt. Esther N. Gitau, during his court-martial Dec. 12 at the Lawrence Williams Judicial Center, according to Army officials.

The military judge also sentenced Mwangi to forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction in rank to E-1 and a dishonorable discharge from the Army, officials said.

Mwangi, an aircraft structural repairer assigned to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, will serve his sentence at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The shooting

On Feb. 21, Mwangi and his wife argued at their Killeen home when the dispute turned deadly, Army officials said. Mwangi shot his wife several times, then left the home with the victim locked in the primary bedroom.

While in his vehicle, Mwangi called his brother and told him about the shooting, according to officials. The brother contacted authorities, who found Gitau’s body when they arrived at the residence.

The next day, military police arrested Mwangi when he tried to enter Fort Hood, officials said.

Investigation and charges

Local authorities notified Army Criminal Investigation Division investigators, who found blood, DNA and other evidence, according to Army officials. The Army charged Mwangi with unpremeditated murder on April 2.

“A soldier, a mother, a sister — Sgt. Esther Gitau — was tragically taken away by the accused’s actions,” said Lt. Col. William Wicks, prosecutor with the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. “Today was the first step toward obtaining justice for Sgt. Gitau.”

Maj. John Architzel, also a prosecutor with the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, praised the investigation by the Killeen Police Department and Army CID.

“Nothing can undo the senseless murder of Sgt. Gitau, but the dedicated work of law enforcement ensured justice was brought in this case,” Architzel said.

Special Agent in Charge Lane Allen of Army CID’s Central Texas Field Office said the outcome sends a clear message about accountability.

“While no sentence can undo the harm caused or restore what was taken, today’s outcome sends a clear message that our justice system will not waiver in pursuit of those who commit such tragic acts,” Allen said.

The case was investigated by Army CID’s Central Texas Field Office and the Killeen Police Department, officials said. Prosecutors included Wicks, Architzel and Capt. Eric Fenton, the Brigade Judge Advocate of 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel handles prosecution of murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping and other serious criminal offenses, according to Army officials. The office is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with eight regional headquarters overseeing 28 field offices across the country, including Europe and Korea.

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