In The Dark: Episode 6 - "The Full Picture"

Release Date: August 27, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 6 of Season 3, titled "The Full Picture," In The Dark delves deep into one of the most harrowing incidents of modern military history: the Haditha massacre. This episode meticulously reconstructs the events of November 19, 2005, when U.S. Marines killed 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Hosted by Madeleine Baran, the episode explores not only the brutal killings but also the subsequent investigations that failed to bring any of the perpetrators to justice despite overwhelming evidence.

Background of the Haditha Massacre

The Haditha massacre occurred in the aftermath of an improvised explosive device (IED) attack that killed a Marine, triggering a retaliatory response by U.S. forces. Over the course of a single day, Marines systematically killed men, women, and children in several houses within the town. The initial investigation, led by Colonel Watt, was criticized for its brevity and lack of depth, ultimately recommending a more thorough criminal investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

Military Investigations: Colonel Watt vs. NCIS

Madeline Barron explains, “The first investigation into what happened on November 19, 2005, in Haditha, the one conducted by Colonel Watt, was brief and friendly and not too detailed. But for all of Watt's inclination to give the Marines the benefit of the doubt, he did recommend another investigation, a criminal one” (01:33). This recommendation set the stage for NCIS to undertake an extensive and rigorous investigation, involving dozens of agents both in Iraq and the United States. Kelly Garbo, one of the leading NCIS investigators, emphasized the responsibility they felt towards both the Iraqi people and the U.S. Military in seeking justice (02:10).

Marine Statements and Admissions

The episode introduces six key Marines involved in the massacre:

1. Sergeant Frank Wuderich: Described as quiet and reserved, Wuderich was the squad leader who, according to his subordinate, initiated the shootings (03:41).

2. Corporal Sonic Delacruz: Delacruz expressed an unyielding love for the Marine Corps and admitted to following orders from Wuderich to shoot innocents, initially claiming the victims were running (03:45).

3. Corporal Hector Salinas: Salinas was reported to have executed an elderly woman in the doorway and another man nearby, despite there being no visible weapon threat (04:06).

4. Private First Class Umberto Mendoza: Mendoza reiterated similar claims of following orders and shooting without proper identification of threats (04:09).

5. Lance Corporal Justin Sharrit: Sharrit described his actions as shooting blindly until he ran out of ammo, presenting a façade of ignorance about the victims' identities (04:09).

6. Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum: Tatum emerged as the most damning figure, having admitted to knowingly killing women and children. His statements to NCIS starkly contradicted earlier accounts (04:06).

Pursuit of Interviews with Involved Marines

Barron and her team made concerted efforts to interview the involved Marines to gain firsthand accounts. However, their attempts were largely unsuccessful. Salinas and Wuderich either declined to speak or were unresponsive despite multiple outreach efforts (15:20). The team’s pursuit of Tatum, in particular, revealed a systematic reluctance to engage, with his lawyer firmly declining to facilitate an interview (17:08).

Discovery of Missing Evidence: Military Photos

A pivotal moment in the investigation was the acquisition of over 100 photographs taken by Marines and NCIS investigators on the day of the massacre. Barron details the emotional impact of these photos: “The photos are horrifying, showing bullet holes, blood-stained walls, and the bodies of innocent civilians” (24:48). These images, obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and lawsuits, provided visual evidence that starkly contradicted the Marines' official statements.

Forensic Analysis with Kevin Parmalee

To interpret the graphic photos, Barron enlisted the expertise of Kevin Parmalee, a former detective specializing in forensic reconstruction. Parmalee’s analysis was crucial in piecing together the sequence of events:

• Shootings by the White Car: Initial Marine accounts suggested that civilians were running from an IED, justifying the shootings. However, Parmalee noted that the positioning of the victims indicated they were either standing still or possibly kneeling, directly contradicting claims of them fleeing (28:12). “They almost certainly were not running. At least some of the men may have even been kneeling,” Parmalee concluded (29:25).

• Abdul Rahman’s House: Tatum’s confession to shooting innocents in Abdul Rahman’s living room was supported by photos showing victims in non-threatening positions. Parmalee identified that the trajectory of a bullet fired at Abdul Rahman’s child indicated a deliberate execution rather than a chaotic firefight (35:08). “There’s no doubt that that’s an execution,” Parmalee stated (36:33).

• Safa’s House: The photos revealed that Safa, an 11-year-old girl, was hiding with her sister Noor while her family members were shot dead in the bedroom. The forensic evidence suggested that children were clearly identifiable targets, contradicting any notion of mistaken identity (41:07).

• Four Brothers’ House: In the final house, photos showed four brothers killed in positions that indicated they were not posing any threat. The bullet trajectories and body positions suggested execution-style killings rather than a defensive engagement (43:47).

Parmalee's meticulous analysis underscored the irrefutable evidence of intentional killings, debunking the Marines' claims of self-defense and confusion (39:04). “Once you decide to stand a foot next to a four-year-old child and put a bullet in his head, there's no way you cannot see that that's a child,” Parmalee asserted (36:33).

Impact on Victims’ Families

The families of the victims, particularly Khalid Jamal, sought closure through the release of the photos and the detailed forensic findings. Jamal expressed profound sorrow upon learning that his father and uncles were killed while in completely defenseless positions, shattering any hope that they had resisted or fought back (43:22). The emotional toll on the families was immense, with Jamal requesting copies of the photos to remember his lost loved ones accurately.

Conclusion: Lack of Prosecutions Despite Evidence

Despite the overwhelming evidence — including photographic documentation, forensic analysis, and admittances from the Marines themselves — no criminal convictions were secured. The episode raises critical questions about the military’s handling of war crimes and the systemic failures that allowed such atrocities to go unpunished. Barron poignantly asks, “How did the military go from having all this evidence to having the cases completely fall apart?” (50:59), highlighting a profound disconnect between evidence and justice.

Publishing of Photos

Faced with the moral imperative to reveal the truth, Barron and her team decided to publish a selection of the most impactful photos, with the consent of the surviving family members. These images provide an unvarnished glimpse into the brutality of the Haditha massacre, serving as a stark reminder of the atrocities that occurred (52:59).

Final Thoughts

Episode 6, "The Full Picture," serves as a powerful exposé on the Haditha massacre, meticulously unraveling the layers of deception and revealing the stark truth through evidence and expert analysis. It underscores the resilience of investigative journalism in seeking justice and holding powerful institutions accountable, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

Notable Quotes

• Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum:

  • “Knowing it was a kid, I still shot him.” (35:22)

• Kevin Parmalee:

  • “There’s no doubt that that’s an execution.” (36:33)
  • “It really pulls at my emotions a lot.” (37:12)

• Terri Zimmerman (Tatum’s lawyer):

  • “He was just doing his job the way he was trained to do.” (18:33)
  • “Lance Corporal Tatum was doing what he was trained to do on the orders of people senior to him.” (19:46)

Conclusion

"In The Dark: Episode 6 - The Full Picture" is a compelling and essential listen for anyone seeking to understand the complexities and failures surrounding one of the most tragic military incidents in recent history. Through relentless investigation, expert analysis, and unwavering dedication, the episode illuminates the dark corners of war crimes investigations and the ongoing quest for accountability and justice.