Regina Mullen told NJ.com on Sunday, June 26, that painful reminders of her son's death have come steadily to her. Kyle Mullen, who died on February 4 after completing the grueling first phase of the U.S. Navy Seal training called Hell Week, was supposed to be the best man at the June wedding of his brother TJ.
A picture of Kyle was set up at the wedding ceremony instead. A street was also dedicated to the 24-year-old soldier in Manalapan at the start of the month. Regina said that honor was fitting as her son was devoted to his community.
Regina, a nurse who lived in the township, opened her mail last Saturday to find an autopsy report from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. The report stated that her son died due to pneumonia during his training at the Naval Base Coronado in California.
Autopsy showed Kyle died of acute pneumonia due to Streptococcus pyogenes
According to a copy of the autopsy report provided to NJ Advance Media by Mullen's mom, Kyle had completed Hell Week and was being looked after by non-medical personnel to help him tend to his basic needs.
The report stated that Kyle was in a wheelchair most of the time and could not stand and walk on his own. He had reportedly been spitting and coughing up red-tinged fluid, nearly filling a 36-ounce sports drink bottle.
According to a report written by U.S. Army Regional Medical Examiner Wendy Warren on May 2, Mullen died of acute pneumonia due to Streptococcus pyogenes. The National Library of Medicine says that Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human-specific bacterial pathogen that can be mild or life-threatening depending on the patient's case.
Regina said the military's autopsy simply confirmed the private autopsy she had arranged some weeks prior, wherein she paid $6,000 of her own money. The military's medical examiner also confirmed what she had suspected in a toxicology report - her son tested negative for drugs.
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Mom wants officials in charge at the time of son's death jailed
Regina said she could not obtain Kyle's medical diagnosis immediately following his Hell Week training, which lasted 5.5 days. The mom also wants to know why instructors and the commander in charge at the time of Kyle's death have not been disciplined.
Regina did not mince any words when talking about those said officials, saying that she wanted them all in jail and never able to work in the Navy again. She added that this is like murder to her, and no one seems to care, but she cares, and her whole community cares, and she will not stop.
According to Regina, signs that her son suffered during Hell Week training and was not provided appropriate medical treatment came before February 4. Kyle discussed facing mistreatment during rigorous training exercises in August last year, CBS News reported.
