New revelations have emerged in the chilling case of a Fort Drum soldier accused of murdering his roommate with a hammer—an incident that has stunned the Army community and raised questions about safety and support within the ranks.
Specialist Riley F. Birbilas, 22, of Kodiak, Alaska, formally pleaded not guilty this week to charges of premeditated murder and obstruction of justice in connection with the brutal death of fellow 2nd Brigade Combat Team soldier, Specialist Jacob Allen Ashton, 21. Both soldiers served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, and had recently returned from a deployment to Iraq.
A Gruesome Discovery on Post
Ashton was discovered dead on August 5, 2024, inside his own car parked outside their barracks on Fort Drum. What at first seemed like a mysterious death soon turned into a homicide investigation that now paints a disturbing picture of violence behind the barracks door.
According to military prosecutors, Birbilas allegedly attacked Ashton with a hammer—striking him in the head and causing a deep laceration to his thigh. The assault is believed to have taken place sometime during the night of August 4 or early morning August 5.
Prosecutors say Birbilas then attempted to cover up the murder, wrapping Ashton’s body in a blanket, dragging it downstairs, and stuffing it in the backseat of Ashton’s vehicle under a pile of suitcases. When Ashton failed to report for formation the next morning, his absence triggered a search, leading to the gruesome discovery.
DNA Evidence and the Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution claims to have DNA evidence linking Birbilas to the scene. A hammer—believed to be the murder weapon—was reportedly found in a nearby dumpster, along with blood-soaked shoes and a blanket. All were allegedly tied to Birbilas and Ashton via DNA testing. Inside Ashton’s car, his phone also reportedly contained DNA evidence linking Birbilas to the scene.
At a preliminary Article 32 hearing earlier this year, the prosecution detailed their version of events, stating the physical evidence backs up a charge of premeditated murder—a capital offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Defense Pushes Back
However, Birbilas’ civilian defense attorney, Mickey Williams, isn’t conceding anything. During the hearing, he floated the theory of possible outside involvement, referencing alleged phone calls that Ashton received threatening to kill him and his family if he didn’t pay $5,000. Williams suggested these threats point to other potential suspects the Army may have overlooked.
Despite this, the military judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed to a general court-martial. Birbilas remains in pretrial confinement on Fort Drum.
Trial Scheduled for November
The arraignment took place on post Monday morning, where Birbilas was formally presented with two options for his upcoming trial: be judged by a panel of service members (similar to a jury), or by a military judge alone. As of this writing, Birbilas has not made a final decision on which route to pursue, according to WWNYT.
If he chooses a panel, it will be composed of up to eight higher-ranking soldiers who must reach a three-fourths majority to convict. If found guilty of premeditated murder, Birbilas faces either life in military prison or the death penalty.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 17. The trial is expected to begin on November 13 and continue into December.
No Known Motive Yet
To date, Army officials and prosecutors have not provided a clear motive for the killing. Ashton’s family, still reeling from the loss, described him as a young man just beginning his adult life.
“He was just 21,” said Ashton’s aunt, Michelle Ustupski, in a previous interview. “He was just getting ready to start his life.”
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