FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The trial date nears for a soldier charged with the murder of his pregnant wife, Meghan Santiago.
On Sept. 27, 2021, Meghan Santiago sustained blunt force injuries and later died in the hospital, according to her autopsy report. An emergency C-section and brain surgery were performed in an attempt to save her and her unborn child. The baby girl survived being born eight weeks early, but Meghan died from her injuries.
Her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph A. Santiago, a 5th Special Forces Group support soldier, was detained and charged the following day with Meghan’s murder and harm to her unborn child.
Meghan was on life support for eight days before she was taken off, and the staff at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville performed an honor walk as she was taken to have her organs donated. According to information from PIX11 News in New York City, since she was so small, many of her organs were donated to children.
The autopsy performed on Oct. 6 determined the manner of her death to be homicide, according to The Leaf-Chronicle. She suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including bruising to most of her body, hemorrhaging to her head and brain, and a fractured rib.
According to Maj. Daniel Mathews, 101st Airborne Division deputy public affairs officer, Santiago is charged by the military with murder, bodily injury to an unborn child, and two specifications of assault.
The trial is scheduled for Jan. 28 at Fort Campbell. Santiago entered a plea of not guilty on July 14 and remains in pre-trial confinement.
The judge for the case will be Col. Travis Rogers. Santiago is represented by a defense counsel Maj. Amy Gransdos and Capt. Elizabeth Paillere. The trial counsel is led by Maj. Michael T. Gilmore and Capt. Derek Depew.