Cause of death revealed for 3 Marines found dead near Camp Lejeune as families grieve

THREE United States Marines have died from carbon monoxide poisoning after their bodies were discovered at a gas station.

Three Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, were found early Sunday at a Speedway gas station in Hampstead, about 40 miles southwest of their base.

Autopsies of the victims confirmed that they all died from carbon monoxide poisoning, Pender County Sheriff Alan W. Cutler said via the department's Facebook page on Wednesday.

The Marines were earlier identified as Lance Corporal Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, from Madison, Wisconsin, Lance Corporal Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Lance Corporal Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Florida.

“I am saddened by the timeless and tragic death of these three young men, who served our country honorably," Cutler said.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time.”

Garcia's aunt, Rosely Garcia, spoke to The U.S. Sun in Spanish, describing the young man as an exemplary person who was affectionate, friendly, and respectful.

"He was very special to us, his relatives were very happy. He liked to help others. He liked to spend time with his family. He was not a problematic boy," she said.

"For me, Ivan, like his aunt, was all my heart. My mother, who is his grandmother, is devastated.

"Ivan my boy, we will miss you. You were and will always be my beautiful boy."

Camp Lejeune has recently been under criticism from a veteran who claims that he was exposed to toxic water at the base.

Martin Keimig, 69, who was based at Camp Lejeune during the 1970s, was diagnosed with cancer decades after he was stationed there.

He believes the toxic water he was allegedly exposed to at the Marine base can be linked to his recent health battles.

The ex-Marine, who served at the base on two occasions in 1972 and 1974, is a stage three kidney cancer survivor after being diagnosed with the illness in 2013 but expressed fears about what may lie down the road.

Martin said: “My days are numbered, but what ticking time bomb is waiting for me down the road?

“I’m already dealing with the lack of kidney and I’ve had to deal with blood clots all of the time, and I’ve got other health issues. So, it’s just a slow drip," he exclusively told The U.S. Sun.

Martin's claims come as a bombshell study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association in May revealed that veterans at Camp Lejeune were 70 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease compared to veterans at Camp Pendleton – a base located on the West Coast.

The U.S. Sun approached The United States Marine Corps for comment.