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The Army says an MP committed suicide. His family says no way.  Chad Langford  Officials found Chad fatally wounded CASE DETAILS On March 12, 1992, military policeman Chad Langford was finishing what should have been a routine patrol of his Army Base in Huntsville, Alabama. Thirty minutes later, Langford radioed his base station, informing them he was stopping to investigate an abandoned car. Within minutes, the back up officer arrived to find a bizarre scene. Chad’s military ID tag, armband, and his portable police radio had been deliberately arranged in the middle of the street. There was no sign of Chad. Then, a quarter of a mile away, the officer found Chad’s body.  The military claimed it was suicide The officer was shocked by Chad’s condition. His head was bleeding and he was barely breathing. His cap had been stuffed in his mouth and the cord from his radar unit had been wrapped around his neck. His pistol strap was tied around his ankles. Chad’s handcuffs were clamped on his left wrist. On his left hand was a cryptic message written in black ink, “March 3,” and what looked like the name, “Robert.” Strangely, Chad’s .45 caliber pistol was found under his left shoulder. Ballistic tests would later show that two shots had been fired from Chad’s gun. However, it could not be determined whether either of them had hit Chad.  “March 3 Robert” was written on his hand Chad Langford was rushed to Huntsville Hospital where he died two hours later. He was four months shy of his 21st birthday. His father, Jim Langford, was shocked to learn that the Army believed Chad had taken his own life:
Chad Langford was raised by his father and grandmother in a small Northern California community. He joined the Army right after high school and was stationed in South Korea. There he earned several good conduct medals. At the conclusion of that tour of duty, Chad joined the military police at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. According to his family, Chad loved army life and planned to re-enlist. Then in early 1992, Jim Langford noticed a change in his son’s behavior:
 Chad’s police radio was placed in the street When Jim Langford urged his son to talk to his undercover superior, Chad said he would not be able to for another 14 days. But 14 days later, Chad was found bleeding with a fatal bullet wound to the head. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, or C.I.D., reviewed Chad’s death for four months. Their report stated that Langford had not been involved in any undercover narcotics work. The C.I.D. finding echoed the Army’s preliminary judgment—Chad had taken his own life. The report included what the C.I.D. called a “Psychological Autopsy”, a post-mortem evaluation of mental health. It described Langford as having serious, life-long emotional problems. Jim Langford was immediately skeptical after hearing the military’s “official” evaluation:
The report claimed that Chad’s suicide was triggered by a breakup with his girlfriend. However, Chad’s former girlfriend Roxanne disagreed:
Roxanne saw Chad for the last time, five days before his death at the base nightclub. He seemed to have dramatically changed. Chad was dressed all in black, gang-style clothing. He sported an earring and was hanging out with several rough looking men Roxanne had not seen before. Langford’s lifestyle changes tie in with another shocking C.I.D. allegation. In their report, the Army claimed Chad had been plotting to steal from the Army PX and cited interviews with three soldiers to prove it. Chad’s father believed there was a legitimate explanation for any contact his son may have had with criminal elements on the base:
Chad left phone messages for several friends just hours before his death. The C.I.D. interpreted Chad’s calls as “good-bye” messages to those he cared for the most. However, Chad’s father never received a call:
The psychological autopsy claimed that Chad Langford had a profound lack of self-esteem and was desperate to create a new image, even at the cost of his own life. According to the report, Chad felt that the glory eluding him in life would finally be his if he appeared to have died in a heroic last stand. They said he called in a false report of an abandoned car. That he had staged the scene to look as if he had been accosted, and then murdered. The official report even claimed that Chad’s accounts of undercover assignments were a total invention. Chad’s family, however, did not believe he committed suicide, and neither did Huntsville reporter Julie Schultz:
Chad’s father also believed that the military police missed opportunities to question possible suspects that night. The MPs stopped two different cars within a mile of where Chad was found. According to Jim Langford, in both cases the drivers were never questioned:
Chad Langford’s final hours remain shrouded in mystery. Did he invent a tale of undercover intrigue and then stage a heroic death? Or did Chad Langford truly die a hero, gunned down in the line of duty? Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season five with Robert Stack and in season one with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Mike
Per the Unsolved Mysteries wiki…
“Results: Unsolved. After the broadcast, the investigation into Chad’s death was reopened by the Army. The results from the new investigation were never known and never made public.”
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Chad_Langford#google_vignette
Patrick
Sorry but I don’t think he was pulled for undercover work with his mental state, no way.
Lalsbyes
Some psychotic individuals with schizophrenia in the military are known to make the death look like someone else did it because they don’t believe something is wrong with them. I believe he looks and is mentally ill.
Liz
Your comment is a joke!
AREA rESIDENT
I left one comment on this website in 2017 and I’ll repeat what I said then. If you watch Forensic Files or such shows you will find that sometimes people do fall on the weapon when they commit suicide while standing using a handgun. They have a name for the way bodies fall called the “death fall” where the person drops and the legs cross. So, if an event can happen enough to merit the name “death fall” then it’s is very possible he could have fell on the gun. It doesn’t matter what part of the body the gun is under. I’m watching Killer Couples and the episode I’m watching is season 10 episode 3 and a detective just said the same thing. WHEN A PERSON COMMITS SUICIDE WHILE STANDING THE GUN CAN END UP UNDER THE BODY, ANYWHERE UNDER THE BODY! It helps to know that what you are saying is factual, not just something you think is right because you think that’s the way things happen. Here is a link to the episode I’m watching: https://www.primewire.ag/tv/59835/watch-killer-couples-season-10-episode-3. Use Ublock and go to 14:10 and you will hear a detective say how common this is.
Hickory dickery dock
Get real! Read the reports related to this case!
Cara
Have you not fully read up on this case? Who ties their own feet up and handcuff themselves when dying by suicide? Or ties a cord around their neck if they plan on shooting themselves? It’s total overkill. There is no doubt he was murdered.
Davd
I reckon his dad did it
Michael halterman
Read all you can about this case, there was no death fall!
Jade
If they have fingerprints of someone else why doesn’t someone just run the prints and see what happens?
thinkingoutloud
clearly he was set up and killed. the same night he was going to tell his dad about what he was working on was the same night he was killed aka his cover was blown. he thought he was going to be free after that night, but they murdered him to keep quiet. all of his ‘changes’ are just an act of his character while he was undercover. he was clearly playing a role during his mission. all the reports are citing different things and suicide because their cover would get blown if they admit he was murdered. they clearly set up the abandoned car to take this man out
Bill Blaski
I agree….. I still ask this question
How does he shoot himself in the head and then put the gun underneath him? Directly under his shoulder blades. So service members have physch evaluations done? Unfortunately this case will not get the coverage it deserves, some suit has already made up their mind what happened.
Jace Robert Estes
I have first hand knowledge that the phones on base were always being monitored for information that explains why he was murdered before he could tell his father about his situation
Me
He probably was murdered but seeing as it’s almost 28 years later and still no answer, I don’t think we’ll ever truly know.
J
Just saw “Kill The Messenger”. A reporter discovers the CIA allegedly turned a blind eye and allowed guns/drug in USA to be used to fund political revolution in Nicaragua. This happened about the same time as this murder. Wonder if it’s coincidence or if it’s something else.
Jeh
Happened a few years too late for that.
Craig Northacker
How about any issues with theft of bio/chem items?
Aaron
I was in the same platoon as Chad is basic training. We lived in the same bay and were 40 trainees all lumped together. We all knew each other pretty well and talked in length. Our basic training coincided with Military Police School from Sep 89 to Jan 90. Chad was a good Soldier and was the Platoon Leader for most of our training. I won’t speak I’ll of him as he died in service to our nation but Chad had some serious issues I noticed living with him for 5 months. Chad would become recluse at times, ignoring everyone and going into his shell for days at a time. He also would snap at times and get very violent but that is fairly common when 50 male trainees are lumped together under those conditions. However, Chad did like to tell tall tales at times, talking of things such as conspiracy theories and that he just wanted to go to war and kill people. Not that uncommon once again considering the bravado among 50 young adrenaline fueled trainees. One thing now sticks out. Chad claimed to be an orphan. He said he had no family and grew up in a foster home with no biological family to speak of. Now, I retired from the Army. I chose to serve a full career. I have seen and heard every self proclaimed “Jason Bourne, Audie Murphy, war hero type “ story. I.m not saying Chad’s death was a murder or suicide, I have not seen the evidence but what I can tell you is that if he was working undercover with CID or MPI it would have been stated so by the command. If he were undercover he would not be working law enforcement duty in uniform and pulling shift work. My opinion is that Chad has some serious psychological issues
Lieutenant James Lethbridge Stewart
You’re an obvious liar.
Chase
Yeah exactly, I did 10 years in the Army and they wouldn’t even have a regular MP SPC working “undercover” as that is a CID agents job.
Bill Blaski
Watched this episode again. How did the gun get underneath him? Are we to believe he shot himself in the head then had enough strength to lay on top of the gun? This gun was not beside him it was underneath him.
mrz melendez
Gang style clothes? Sporting an earring? That makes you gang related? This sounds like a cover up from the military but to say he was dressed like a gang member is being prejudice and ignorant. Get it together UM that’s very offensive.
Anonymous
Read the report, everything’s all wrong, even if he did brilliantly stage it, his prints would have been on the gun, also when a gun is fired gunpowder residue remains and is very difficult to remove, if he had indeed shot himself it would be all over his hand and match the gunpowder in the shells and on his gun. The gun was wiped quickly (but not thoroughly) then dropped it under his shoulder, if he shot himself the gun wouldn’t have fallen behind him but in front of him, either to his side or his lap or even by his legs.
Area Resident
I lived in the area when this happened and still do. About five years before this several hardcore bands in the area would use the armory on Memorial Parkway just south of Joe Davis stadium before Airport Road to literally have drug fueled live band parties with mosh pits that I attended several times. There was only one rule, don’t give alcohol or drugs to the soldiers. Why would a military armory allow underage teenagers, I was 16 or 17, to use coke, take acid, smoke weed, and drink until there were passed out kids and puke everywhere? Many times different soldiers would ask us for anything they saw us taking, drinking, or smoking with their superior officers walking around watching to make sure we didn’t. I can personally say they definitely were very lax about underage drug/alcohol use so I can relate to that part of the story, but I’m not a military person and do not know what MP’s can do what in undercover drug investigations. I do recall there were a lot of weird stories stirring around, but there was not a zero-tolerance drug attitude at that armory. I’m not a soldier so I do not know if that national guard armory, which is still there, is part of Redstone but I’m sure it has to be because it is close to a gate into the arsenal. Also, if you watch Forensic Files or such shows you will find that sometimes people do fall on the weapon when they commit suicide while standing using a handgun. They have a name for the way bodies fall called the “death fall” where the person drops and the legs cross. So, if a event can happen enough to merit the name “death fall” then it’s is very possible he could have fell on the gun. It doesn’t matter what part of the body the gun is under.
Area Resident
I just found this NY Times article from 1993 about Chad.
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/20/us/40-suicide-rulings-are-challenged.html
LUIS FREEH
“I” THINK THE “CLUE” OR “INDICATION TO MURDER” HERE IS HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. HOW DID HIS .45 CAL. END UP “UNDER HIS RIGHT SHOULDER”? IT SHOULD BE ON HIS RIGHT BESIDE HIM IF HE SHOT HIMSELF! THE “KICK BACK, EVEN ( WITH IT’S SLIDE TO REDUCE IT), STILL WOULD PROPELL IT BACK WARDS AS LIFE LEFT HIS BODY. BESIDE HIM ON THE RIGHT OR LEFT *NOT* UNDER HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.
Do not wish to be identified
Is this the same case that was aired when Robert Stack was the hosting the show? If not, there was another case with a similar story. I called the 800 number that was available back then. I was at that base in 1973 for training. Trust me. I had been to collage before enlisting. Drugs were very much a part of the culture on the base. Drugs were available almost all the time and very easy to get. The troops were always tipped off at least 2 days before they brought the dogs through. Even then, Some got caught. After they were caught they returned to the units to await their fate. Some were sent for counseling. After that, they seemed to be more plugged in to the contraband. In those days the drugs I saw was Marijuana, Acid, and Angel Dust. Rumors at the time seemed to point to some of the MP’s as the suppliers. I personally suspected the person that did the drug counseling.
Anonymous
These comments feature a lot of spurious assumptions and baseless speculation.
Based solely on the evidence provided in the article, there is no way to determine the actual cause of the young man’s death.
Mark Brougher
He has murdered. If you don’t belive me I should say that you or the police check the gun if there’s finger prints that means he comitted suicide or the hat if it has teeth marks that meana that he comitted suicide too. I have spoken
Joan Pesta
On Friday 4-07-2006 my son Spec. Chris was found dead in his barracks at Fort Bragg North Carolina. It took 6 months before they told us his heart stopped. I never believe them, our son was very healthy and spend the weekend before hiking and fishing with his dad. There were other soldiers in Chris’s barracks who died suddenly. In fact the day after Chris was found dead there was another soldier was found dead. This needs to stop, it’s been going on way to long. I have all my son information the army gave us. I can’t find anyone to help me get to the bottom of our son death and so many others. The CID knows about this and is doing nothing to stop it. It’s been 9 years since our son died. Maybe just maybe someone out there could help us. I can’t believe this has been going on for all these years. If anyone can help or if I can help anyone solve these murders please contact me @ jpesta@earthlink.net
Jen
I am so sorry, Joan. What a painful thing for a mother to endure.Have you made any progress on this? Maybe contact the admins at Unsolved.com. I know the facebook page at least is adding new stories
Anonymous
We all knew it wasnt suicide….we all had our suspicions as soon as we got on base and word began to spread. I was called in and interviewed by CID about things they heard that I was aware of regarding someone who was suspected of being after Chad…another soldier…who lived off base and WAS involved in some shady stuff. This guy was scary. Just one look at him and you knew he was bad news and alot of people knew what kind of stuff he was involved with.
I told CID everything I was aware of and gave them a name. Seemed like not long thereafter, Chad’s death was ruled a suicide. Its been 23 years….I still remember the disbelief, shock and sadness we all felt.
Aaron
I’ve read quite a few of these apparent “suicide” stories. And i agree that a lot of them are cover-ups, but this one I’m not so sure.
It really (and unfortunately) seems like he did stage his own death to be mysterious/ heroic. And being in the army myself, i know quite a bit about MP and what they do, and his supposed “undercover work” was most likely not true. First of all, to work undercover in the military, you have to go through extensive special training and be well qualified. It also takes quite awhile to get to that level. And from what i read, he was a “Road MP” or a “Roadie” as we call them in the army. It’s probably the most basic of MP duties, and it’s also the lowest rank. Bottom line is that him working undercover work for the MP is highly unlikely. It’s like asking a mall security guard to go undercover for a narcotics detective.
My point is that if he lied about that, then maybe it was all part of a well thought out plan to make himself look important or like a hero.
His phone calls made sense because why would he call his father and grandmother before committing suicide? If he did in fact stage it, then calling his father before killing himself would ruin that. So it makes sense as to why he would call his friends and not his dad. But why would he leave his arm band and radio on the street? Or better yet, why would someone who is going to kill him put that stuff there, or have him do it? I can see someone pointing a gun at him, telling him to ‘drop his stuff’ but still, his arm band?? Doesn’t make sense.
The gun under the shoulder makes sense because in many suicides the gun is found underneath the body due to its size and weight. And the ‘cap in the mouth’ could have been placed there by him too. It is said that it was “blood soaked” but that very well could have gotten blood all over it after he was shot in the head. He could have had blood come into his mouth due to the gunshot, or it could have gotten onto the parts of the cap that were sticking out of his mouth after he was shot. Being shot in the head does produce a massive amount of blood.
The wire around his neck and gun strap around his feet could’ve easily been placed there by him. It almost seems like overkill. If he was tied up or whatever, then don’t you think it would’ve been tied extremely tight? And the wire around his neck?? Seems like it was placed there for show. Why go to the trouble to take a wire out of the car, place it around his neck, and not strangle him but shoot him instead? Doesn’t make any sense at all. But the biggest giveaway i think, is the handcuffs. If someone was trying to/going to kill him, why would only his left hand be handcuffed?? Why not both? Because he wouldn’t have been able to shoot himself if both hands were cuffed. No one is going to put one handcuff on one hand. That just sounds so stupid.
And finally the name Robert written on his hand. Did they ever check to see if that was his own handwriting? And why would someone else write that on his hand? I think it’s obvious he did it himself but what was the clue supposed to be? Maybe it was just a random name he wrote to cause mystery and confusion? And him telling his father that “he was a dead man if they found out he was undercover”. I think he had this entire thing planned for awhile. That’s probably why he broke up with his gf too. It makes sense.
This whole story is just sad. He was only 20 years old and had his entire life ahead of him. I wish he did go out like a hero, but i doubt it. It really seems like he took his own life.
Sky
Yeah right. He was murdered. Major cover up. These”suicide” stories are jokes.
Anonymous
I dont think Chad Langford shot himself 9
Dan
Thats all fine and dandy but you completely ignored the fact that THEY WERE NOT HIS FINGERPRINTS on the handcuffs, gun, and etc.
Grace Lanayee Woods
The biggest red flag is the gun under the shoulder. It’s physically impossible to have pulled the trigger once caused immediate death, stop the brain and motor reflexes and have the gun leave the hand and land under the shoulder. Even if gun flew out of hand rate of speed for body weight to ground would be faster than gun rate to land prior to body.. you would have to run projection of angle of bullet to find the precise angle and position of gun and hand and arm then run mathematics against a simulation to end in that position. I’m pretty close to sure it’s almost impossible. I didn’t read the whole case and see if they checked his hand for gun powder and surrounding areas for foot prints or tire tracks or other evidence to cross analyze against his own to determine any other presence. I’m pretty sure if you run a simulation with all evidence it will rule out his ability to shoot himself which would establish murder from suicide. There is a math to all of it and position of arm exactly at landing from position at time of shooting and probably non of it will match him committing suicide.