YORKTOWN, Va. (WAVY) — A Naval Weapons Station Yorktown sailor was charged last week in connection with the death of another sailor.
On April 28, 22-year-old Master at Arms Petty Officer Third Class Lyndon Joel Cosgriff-Flax was said to have fallen overboard during a training exercise just after 8 p.m. on the York River. The initial report stated Cosgriff-Flax sustained fatal injuries during the fall.
On Monday, Nov. 25, the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs Office put out a release, which stated that another sailor was charged last week with negligent homicide, making a false official statement and two counts of dereliction of duty in connection to Cosgriff-Flax’s death.
Court documents state that the accused sailor “unlawfully killed” Cosgriff-Flax by operating a harbor safety boat in a negligent manner, and that the sailor then provided a false statement to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service following Cosgriff-Flax’s death.
The military stated they will not name the accused sailor until the charges “have been officially referred.”
10 On Your Side spoke with Cosgriff-Flax’s grandmother, Sandie Guthrie, in April following the announcement of his tragic passing.
“No parent or grandparent needs to bury a child. It’s wrong, it’s wrong, and we can beg God to take us first, but it doesn’t work that way,” Guthrie said.
Currently, the Navy has not set a date for the accused sailor’s court proceedings.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.