In the early hours of a Monday morning, on July 31, 2017, the life of Alejandro Jonathan Franquiz, a 30-year-old Hispanic male, came to a tragic end. A deputy with the Geary County Sheriff's Office discovered his body inside his vehicle, which was parked on an I-70 off-ramp south of Manhattan, Kansas. At the time of his death, Franquiz was an active-duty U.S.
Army Staff Sergeant stationed at nearby Fort Riley.
An investigation into the circumstances of his death was initiated, and an autopsy was ordered to determine the cause. The results of the autopsy later confirmed that Franquiz had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Due to this finding, there was no indication of foul play, and therefore no information on suspects or arrests was ever released by law enforcement.
Known as "Jonathan" to his family, he was a decorated soldier who had served three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also a husband and a father to three children. His passing was a shock to those who knew him, leaving behind a family to mourn the loss of a man who had dedicated his adult life to his country and his loved ones.
