Husband of Slain 101st Soldier Charged with Premeditated Murder

A federal grand jury has indicted Victor Silvers on seven criminal counts relating to the alleged "premeditated murder" of his wife Sgt. Brittney Silvers, a 101th Airborne Division soldier who was killed on Fort Campbell, Kentucky October 14, according to a Nov. 14 Department of Justice news release.

Silvers, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was charged in the indictment with "one count of first-degree murder (premeditated), attempted first-degree murder (premeditated), domestic violence, violation of a protection order, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent offense," according to the release.

Silvers, who was originally charged in a criminal complaint filed on October 15, is facing "a minimum sentence of no less than 25 years up to life imprisonment or death," according to the release.

The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint described the night Sgt. Silvers was killed, the release states.

"At approximately 10:00 pm CDT, a friend of Sgt. Silvers was socializing at her residence when someone, later identified as Victor Silvers, arrived at the residence and began banging on the door," according to the affidavit in the release. "The friend heard shouting between the individuals followed by a gunshot.

"A short time later, Victor Silvers entered a bathroom, where the friend had been during the altercation. The defendant, still armed with a handgun, entered the bathroom at which point a struggle ensued, and at least three times the firearm was discharged, and the friend was struck in the leg. A neighbor, who was walking his dog, heard gunshots and saw Victor Silvers shoot Brittney Silvers in front of her residence."

Silvers initially denied involvement in the crimes, "but later confessed to investigators during an interview to shooting Brittney Silvers," according to the release.

Silvers made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on October 16 before United States Magistrate Judge Lanny King, who ordered Silvers detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings of the Court, the release states.

Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Hancock, Leigh Ann Dycus, and U.S. Army Captain Tarik Downie, Special Assistant United States Attorney, are prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the release states.

Sgt. Silvers, a 27-year-old native of Jacksonville, Florida, was an automated logistical specialist. She joined the Army in 2011 and completed initial-entry training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Lee, Virginia. Silvers served for several years at Fort Hood, Texas, before arriving at Fort Campbell in 2016, according to a base press release.

She was posthumously promoted to sergeant and received the Army Commendation Medal.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.