Pentagon identifies additional remains recovered in Niger as Sgt. Johnson
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis answers a reporter's question about the ambush of U.S. troops in Niger. Photo: Alex Brandon / AP
The Pentagon confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that additional remains of Sgt. La David T. Johnson were found at the site of the attack in Niger that killed four U.S. service members. The remains were found on November 12, more than a month after the Pentagon initially said Johnson's body was recovered. A U.S. official told CNN the additional remains were bone fragments.
Background: Johnson's widow had questioned why she was not allowed to view his body, saying "They won't show me a finger, a hand... I don't know what's in that box. It could be empty for all I know, but I need to see my husband," she said. There are still several unanswered questions surrounding the October ambush, and the Pentagon did not elaborate on how this discovery would affect the ongoing investigation.
(The headline and first sentence of this story have been updated to show the remains were in addition to remains of Johnson already recovered.)