An Army Mental Health Counselor who knew her during this period later incongruously commented to investigating officers that Nestling was "chronically suicidal, but at the time had no desire to kill herself", but "based on her history and our conversations I felt she would kill herself with (in) a year". The same person said Nestling had been warned of the potential for liver damage if she continued to drink alcohol whilst taking prescriptions for the drug INH to combat a TB infection. Interestingly, the investigating officer also asked if Nestling had ever been prescribed with the anti-malarial drug, Lariam, which carries warnings that it should be used with caution in patients with a history of depression #. This interview appears to have been completed the day after the autopsy, and prior to the completion of the toxicological examination and a full review of her medical records.
The counselor said she did not know if Nestling had taken Lariam. We still don't know for sure as the army has so far failed to release details on the cocktail of medications regularly taken by Nestling for physical or psychological problems, what was in the dozen or so prescription pill bottles found at the time of her death, or the results of the toxicology report.
Conspicuously absent from the evidence/property custody document listing those same pill bottles was any information as to what drugs they actually contained. However, the partial army report did inadvertently reveal the use of several drugs including sleeping tablets. Others mentioned by name were INH (see above), 'Zolft' (probably the antidepressant Zoloft), 'Colodpyn' (probably Klonopin used for the treatment of panic disorders), and Quetiapine (an anti-psychotic) all of which should not be mixed with alcohol and need to be carefully monitored. All these drugs can have serious side-effects. The last one is particularly noted for increasing the sedating effects of other drugs such as Klonopin & ethanol, and even a potentially fatal complex called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) has been reported.
After returning to the mainland USA, Nestling visited her mother who was concerned at her daughter's excessive drinking and her difficulty sleeping due to nightmares and crying bouts which she claimed were brought on by her experiences (incidents and deaths of fellow soldiers) whilst stationed overseas.
Not long after this, Nestling again took a cocktail of antibiotics, decongestants, and alcohol, and was reported by the MP's as making suicidal gestures. She was taken to the ER for treatment and held for observation. She also spent about two months at WalterReedHospital where she signed a Suicide Prevention Agreement and a doctor recommended she be "at a stable location where she could meet friends and socialize".
The exit strategy - or not?
At some point, which is still not clear, the army decided that Nestling would be chaptered out the service and was sent to Ft.Bragg, N.C. for processing and discharge. In early December 2005 she was again drinking in barracks and later hospitalized for cutting herself, and held for yet another psychological evaluation. She was by now probably seeing a base psychiatrist regularly about three times a week.
In early January 2006 she failed to turn up for duty or attend a scheduled hospital appointment and was subsequently reported absent without leave. A few days prior to this it is known Nestling was found asleep on a couch in the barrack-block day room she shared with fellow soldiers. She awoke for an incoming phone call and asked them to leave so she could hold a private conversation. On their return the door was locked and despite banging loudly for quite a while they had to resort to using a credit card to slip the lock and gain entry. Nestling was passed out on a couch with the phone still pressed to her ear. She continued to sleep most of the day and when the soldiers eventually left at about 9 pm they nudged her but it was clear she just wanted to be left alone.
This was the last time she was seen alive. About midday five days later her fully-clothed body was found slumped on the floor of a barrack room by a soldier returning to collect some personal possessions from a billet he no longer occupied (as he was lodging off the base). The soldier did not know Nestling but evidence suggests she had been living in his room (instead of her own) for a couple of days.
Nestling's own room had been checked for her whereabouts the previous late afternoon after she was posted missing. An unmade bed covered with pill bottles and odd journal entries/letters were found which mentioned a à ‚¬Ëœmonster' and other strange writings about pain. However, the notes were not thought to be suicidal.
Some witnesses said there was no evidence she had been drinking on the last day in question but others contradict this and claimed "she was last seen drinking an unknown amount of alcohol". One witness commented that she would normally "drink whenever she could get her hands on (it)", and had pleaded she "wouldn't know what she would do without (her girlfriend) in her life".
Although, to date, the toxicological report has not been released, the partial report suggests it came back "negative for all tests" except for "a minor amount of Benzodiazepine in the urine", and "there was no alcohol present". This would appear to be highly inconsistent with her chronic alcohol and prescription drug problems, recent history, and some witness statements.
co*k-up or conspiracy?
Nestling's death may or may not have been suicide. It is now over three years since her demise and we will probably never know the truth. Authorities continue to refuse the release of all the relevant documents and reveal the manner and cause of this young soldier's death. What's certain is that the number of army suicides has doubled in the past few years and is symptomatic of an organization in severe crisis.
Stories from families of servicemen and women who have died non-combat related deaths also reveal a pattern of deception and obfuscation by military authorities. At an interview with a CID investigating officer nearly 11 weeks after the fatality, Nestling's own mother revealed she was "upset with the military in that they did not notify her of her daughter's death", and that she "found out from a friend and if she did not find out that way, she still would not have known that her daughter had died".
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