Military mom gunned down in front of her baby

She had a smile She had a smile that lit up the entire that lit up the entire that lit up the entire room. A room. A room. A beautiful 24-year-old beautiful 24-year-old military mom made a military mom made a military mom made a distress call to her distress call to her distress call to her loved ones. loved ones. loved ones. You immediately hear You immediately hear You immediately hear her breathing heavily. her breathing heavily. her breathing heavily. She is crying. I can't She is crying. I can't She is crying. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. breathe. breathe. Within hours, Within hours, Within hours, Carolina Ramirez Carolina Ramirez Carolina Ramirez was dead. Murdered in was dead. Murdered in was dead. Murdered in her own home. her own home. I can't think of I can't think of any reason why any reason why any reason why anyone would want to anyone would want to anyone would want to harm my harm my harm my sister. sister. When the police When the police found her, she was found her, she was found her, she was not alone. But the only not alone. But the only not alone. But the only living witness cannot living witness cannot living witness cannot say who killed her. say who killed her. People find People find soulmates in soulmates in soulmates in their loved ones. My their loved ones. My their loved ones. My sister was my sister was my sister was my soulmate. soulmate. soulmate. Carolina grew up in the Carolina grew up in the Carolina grew up in the small small small border border border town of Del Rio, town of Del Rio, town of Del Rio, Texas. A Texas. A Texas. A shy shy shy girl who became a girl who became a girl who became a true warrior. true warrior. true warrior. As a child, she was As a child, she was As a child, she was very quiet and timid very quiet and timid . When she finished . When she finished . When she finished school, she blossomed school, she blossomed . . . She was bold and She was bold and She was bold and risky. risky. risky. She had courage.

She had courage. She had courage. Especially the courage Especially the courage Especially the courage to achieve what to achieve what to achieve what she wanted in life. she wanted in life. she wanted in life. For example, dropping out of For example, dropping out of For example, dropping out of college to join the college to join the college to join the US Army. US Army. US Army. I tried to I tried to I tried to dissuade her. I dissuade her. I dissuade her. I bribed her. I bribed her. I bribed her. I promised her anything promised her anything promised her anything she wanted. It didn't she wanted. It didn't she wanted. It didn't work. She work. She work. She was going to was going to was going to do it anyway. do it anyway. do it anyway. After being drafted at age 21, After being drafted at age 21, After being drafted at age 21, she she she was eventually sent to was eventually sent to was eventually sent to South Korea as a South Korea as a South Korea as a private private private first class. first class. first class. At first she was At first she was At first she was afraid. She has never afraid. She has never afraid. She has never been this far been this far been this far from me. from me. from me. But Carolina not only But Carolina not only But Carolina not only adapted, she adapted, she adapted, she succeeded. And succeeded. And succeeded. And eventually eventually eventually fell in love with Staff fell in love with Staff Sergeant Malik Sergeant Malik Sergeant Malik Kearney. Then came the Kearney. Then came the Kearney. Then came the most welcome surprise most welcome surprise . She found out she was . She found out she was . She found out she was pregnant. Caroline, pregnant. Caroline, pregnant. Caroline, who had who had who had cervical cancer, cervical cancer, cervical cancer, was told she would was told she would was told she would probably never probably never probably never have children. She have children. She have children. She proved them proved them proved them wrong. wrong. wrong. She was delighted. She was delighted. She was delighted. She wanted a child. She wanted a child. She wanted a child. It was the only thing It was the only thing It was the only thing she longed for so much she longed for so much she longed for so much . . . Two weeks before Two weeks before Two weeks before returning home from returning home from returning home from Korea, the U.S. Korea, the U.S. Korea, the U.S. National Security Agency National Security Agency National Security Agency offered her a offered her a high- high- clearance position in Maryland.

clearance position in Maryland. clearance position in Maryland. She worked for the NSA She worked for the NSA . That's all I can . That's all I can . That's all I can say. That's all I say. That's all I say. That's all I can know. Completely can know. Completely can know. Completely secret, classified. secret, classified. secret, classified. I wasn't even I wasn't even I wasn't even allowed to touch allowed to touch allowed to touch her ID her ID her ID card. card. card. She couldn't She couldn't She couldn't tell me what she was tell me what she was tell me what she was doing. She didn't doing. She didn't doing. She didn't say anything, no matter how much say anything, no matter how much say anything, no matter how much I I I asked. asked. asked. Caroline was Caroline was Caroline was happy with her happy with her happy with her new job, but new job, but new job, but the day the day the day her daughter, Dale, was born was the her daughter, Dale, was born was the her daughter, Dale, was born was the happiest day of her happiest day of her happiest day of her life. life. life. She said, “I She said, “I She said, “I love my love my love my child so much. "I have never child so much. "I have never child so much. "I have never felt such felt such felt such love." love." love." Eventually, Carolina and Eventually, Carolina and Eventually, Carolina and Malik married, but Malik married, but Malik married, but he was sent to he was sent to he was sent to South Carolina and the South Carolina and the South Carolina and the couple were often couple were often couple were often apart. Feeling apart. Feeling apart. Feeling lonely, Caroline lonely, Caroline lonely, Caroline invited her invited her invited her sister Roxanne sister Roxanne sister Roxanne to live in her to live in her to live in her townhouse, townhouse, townhouse, located in a located in a located in a secure housing secure housing secure housing complex near complex near complex near Fort Meade, where Fort Meade, where Fort Meade, where many military many military many military families lived. But during the families lived. But during the families lived. But during the few weeks that few weeks that few weeks that Carlin was Carlin was Carlin was away, a strange away, a strange away, a strange incident incident incident scared Roxanne to death. scared Roxanne to death. I came back from I came back from work. I worked work. I worked work. I worked until 2 am. until 2 am.

until 2 am. The door was open, The door was open, The door was open, the dog was let out, the dog was let out, the dog was let out, the TV was on the TV was on . She's in Texas, no . She's in Texas, no . She's in Texas, no one else has one else has one else has the key, and I'm like, "What the key, and I'm like, "What the key, and I'm like, "What even happened?" So even happened?" So even happened?" So I grabbed a knife and I grabbed a knife and I grabbed a knife and started looking through all the started looking through all the started looking through all the rooms. It was the rooms. It was the rooms. It was the worst experience worst experience worst experience I had there. I had there. I had there. When Roxanne When Roxanne When Roxanne told her sister what told her sister what told her sister what had happened, Carlin had happened, Carlin had happened, Carlin shared a similar shared a similar shared a similar experience but experience but experience but seemed less seemed less seemed less concerned. concerned. concerned. She said that this had happened to her once She said that this had happened to her once She said that this had happened to her once too too too . And they . And they . And they just said, " just said, " Oh, well, service Oh, well, service Oh, well, service comes in sometimes." And we're comes in sometimes." And we're comes in sometimes." And we're like, " like, " like, " Can housekeeping turn on our Can housekeeping turn on our Can housekeeping turn on our TV, let TV, let TV, let the dog out, sit on the the dog out, sit on the the dog out, sit on the couch, and leave couch, and leave couch, and leave the door open?" the door open?" the door open?" They just They just They just shrugged it off: "It's shrugged it off: "It's shrugged it off: "It's nothing, it happens." A nothing, it happens." A few months later, few months later, Roxanne returned Roxanne returned Roxanne returned to Texas, and a military friend moved in with Carlin to Texas, and a military friend moved in with Carlin . . Her friend Marissa Her friend Marissa Her friend Marissa lived with her, she had a lived with her, she had a lived with her, she had a young daughter, and young daughter, and young daughter, and they were best they were best they were best friends. friends. friends. Life was wonderful. Life was wonderful. Life was wonderful. Then, one Then, one Then, one August night, August night, August night, Carlin made Carlin made Carlin made several anxious several anxious several anxious calls to her calls to her calls to her sister and mother.

sister and mother. sister and mother. She said, "I don't She said, "I don't She said, "I don't know what's wrong. I don't know what's wrong. I don't know what's wrong. I don't feel good. I feel good. I feel good. I don't feel don't feel don't feel safe. Do you think safe. Do you think safe. Do you think my child knows that I my child knows that I my child knows that I love her?" I'm like, " love her?" I'm like, " Why are you talking like that? Why are you talking like that? Why are you talking like that? What happened?" "I don't know. What happened?" "I don't know. What happened?" "I don't know. I can't I can't I can't tell you. I don't know." tell you. I don't know." tell you. I don't know." She told me she was having a She told me she was having a She told me she was having a panic attack. And panic attack. And panic attack. And I said, "Well, I said, "Well, I said, "Well, Carlin, what's wrong?" And Carlin, what's wrong?" And Carlin, what's wrong?" And she says, "That's something I she says, "That's something I she says, "That's something I can't discuss with you can't discuss with you can't discuss with you ." I ." I ." I involuntarily thought that involuntarily thought that involuntarily thought that something had happened at something had happened at something had happened at work. work. work. Carlin calmed down, Carlin calmed down, Carlin calmed down, and Susan ended and Susan ended and Susan ended the conversation as usual. the conversation as usual. the conversation as usual. With the words "I love you" With the words "I love you" . Always. Always. . Always. Always. Always. And that's it. I was uncomfortable I was uncomfortable that evening when we that evening when we that evening when we hung up the phone. And I could hung up the phone. And I could hung up the phone. And I could n't sleep. I n't sleep. I n't sleep. I sent her a sent her a sent her a message. message. message. The phone showed that The phone showed that The phone showed that she read it, she read it, she read it, so I really think so I really think so I really think she saw it. she saw it. she saw it. This was our last This was our last This was our last conversation. I conversation. I conversation. I think she knew think she knew think she knew something something something bad was coming. bad was coming. Something bad was coming Something bad was coming . Something . Something . Something incredibly terrible.

incredibly terrible. incredibly terrible. The next morning I The next morning I The next morning I called her, but she called her, but she called her, but she didn't answer. I didn't answer. I didn't answer. I called again, she called again, she called again, she didn't answer. And didn't answer. And didn't answer. And then I wrote to her, and then I wrote to her, and then I wrote to her, and she didn't respond. she didn't respond. she didn't respond. Around 8 a.m. that Around 8 a.m. that Around 8 a.m. that day, maintenance workers day, maintenance workers saw two dogs saw two dogs running around unattended running around unattended . . . When they tried to When they tried to When they tried to chase them away, the dog chase them away, the dog chase them away, the dog ran back into the ran back into the ran back into the open door of open door of open door of the townhouse. So they the townhouse. So they the townhouse. So they went around the front of the house went around the front of the house went around the front of the house . They . They . They knocked on the door, knocked on the door, knocked on the door, but no one answered but no one answered . . . They called They called They called the police, and when the cops the police, and when the cops the police, and when the cops arrived, what they saw arrived, what they saw arrived, what they saw shocked them. shocked them. Dead woman. Dead woman. With injuries to the With injuries to the With injuries to the upper upper upper body. body. body. Detectives also Detectives also Detectives also found an infant in the found an infant in the found an infant in the same townhouse. same townhouse. Carla Ramirez had been Carla Ramirez had been shot, she was shot, she was shot, she was dead. Five-month-old dead. Five-month-old dead. Five-month-old baby Vale was there baby Vale was there . Fortunately, . Fortunately, . Fortunately, unharmed. unharmed. This mother was murdered This mother was murdered in cold blood. Her in cold blood. Her in cold blood. Her child was left to her own child was left to her own child was left to her own devices. devices. devices. Helpless child. Ca Helpless child. Ca Helpless child. Ca n't even sit n't even sit .

. . Susan was about to hear the Susan was about to hear the Susan was about to hear the worst news of worst news of worst news of her life. her life. I looked out, and there were I looked out, and there were two people in two people in two people in uniform standing there. So I uniform standing there. So I uniform standing there. So I understand everything now. "We understand everything now. "We understand everything now. "We regret to inform regret to inform regret to inform you," as they say in the you," as they say in the you," as they say in the movie. That was exactly it movie. That was exactly it . . Roxanne learned Roxanne learned about her sister's murder from about her sister's murder from about her sister's murder from social media. social media. social media. My brother wrote to me My brother wrote to me , and you know, at first I , and you know, at first I , and you know, at first I thought it was a thought it was a thought it was a cruel joke. He cruel joke. He cruel joke. He wrote: "Carla was killed. wrote: "Carla was killed. " And then " And then " And then dad called. And that was dad called. And that was dad called. And that was practically all I practically all I practically all I learned. I'm sorry learned. I'm sorry . . But who wished death upon But who wished death upon this loving mother this loving mother this loving mother and soldier? and soldier? They keep telling They keep telling me that the me that the me that the investigation is ongoing and there are many investigation is ongoing and there are many investigation is ongoing and there are many things we things we things we can't discuss. can't discuss. can't discuss. 24-year-old 24-year-old 24-year-old Army Private First Class Army Private First Class Army Private First Class Carla Ramirez Carla Ramirez Carla Ramirez was found shot to death was found shot to death was found shot to death in her townhouse in in her townhouse in in her townhouse in Maryland. Her Maryland. Her Maryland. Her precious precious precious five-month-old daughter five-month-old daughter five-month-old daughter was there at the time of was there at the time of was there at the time of the murder and the murder and the murder and was was was unharmed. The search for unharmed. The search for unharmed. The search for the killer has begun.

the killer has begun. I have no idea. I have no I have no idea. I have no idea who could idea who could idea who could do this to a 24- do this to a 24- year-old mother. With year-old mother. With year-old mother. With little little little evidence, the police evidence, the police evidence, the police did what did what did what they always do: they always do: they always do: they turned their attention to they turned their attention to they turned their attention to the two people closest to the two people closest to the two people closest to Carla—her Carla—her Carla—her roommate and roommate and roommate and her husband. her husband. her husband. I only saw him I only saw him I only saw him twice. So, you know, I twice. So, you know, I twice. So, you know, I can't say I can't say I can't say I knew him. But he knew him. But he knew him. But he was very nice. He was very nice. He was very nice. He was very pleasant, was very pleasant, was very pleasant, quiet, and quiet, and quiet, and unassuming. unassuming. unassuming. He was very kind He was very kind He was very kind when we met. In when we met. In when we met. In my opinion, he was a my opinion, he was a my opinion, he was a perfect fit for perfect fit for perfect fit for my sister. They my sister. They my sister. They were complete were complete were complete opposites. It opposites. It opposites. It was great, because that's what was great, because that's what was great, because that's what you need— you need— someone to someone to someone to balance you out. balance you out. balance you out. Malik and Carla had Malik and Carla had Malik and Carla had only been married for 5 only been married for 5 only been married for 5 weeks at the time of weeks at the time of weeks at the time of the murder. the murder. the murder. Carla and her husband—did Carla and her husband—did they live together or did they they live together or did they they live together or did they separate? separate? separate? They were newlyweds. There They were newlyweds. There were no agreements on the breakup. were no agreements on the breakup. However, there was some However, there was some However, there was some tension simply tension simply tension simply because he because he because he was serving in South was serving in South was serving in South Carolina and she was serving at Carolina and she was serving at Carolina and she was serving at Fort Meade. Fort Meade. Although police considered Although police considered Carlin's husband Carlin's husband Carlin's husband a suspect, they a suspect, they a suspect, they quickly learned that quickly learned that quickly learned that he was in he was in he was in South Carolina at the time, and South Carolina at the time, and South Carolina at the time, and his alibi his alibi his alibi was confirmed. What was confirmed. What was confirmed. What about neighbor Carlin?

about neighbor Carlin? about neighbor Carlin? Police soon Police soon Police soon confirmed that she confirmed that she confirmed that she was in was in was in Washington state with her Washington state with her Washington state with her daughter, visiting daughter, visiting daughter, visiting relatives. The relatives. The relatives. The crime scene puzzled crime scene puzzled crime scene puzzled both investigators and the both investigators and the both investigators and the family. family. The question remained unanswered: could someone someone connected to her connected to her connected to her top-secret work top-secret work , which required a , which required a , which required a high level of high level of high level of clearance, have been involved? The police clearance, have been involved? The police clearance, have been involved? The police kept the details kept the details kept the details secret. secret. I keep getting told, I keep getting told, "This is an active "This is an active "This is an active investigation, and there are investigation, and there are investigation, and there are many things we many things we many things we can't discuss with you can't discuss with you can't discuss with you ." But ." But ." But they believed she they believed she they believed she might have known the murderer might have known the murderer might have known the murderer because she let him in, and because she let him in, and because she let him in, and as far as they could as far as they could as far as they could tell, nothing tell, nothing tell, nothing had been stolen. Someone had been stolen. Someone had been stolen. Someone told me it told me it told me it looked like a looked like a looked like a professional contract professional contract professional contract killing. Someone had to killing. Someone had to killing. Someone had to know that Carlin was know that Carlin was know that Carlin was there alone. there alone. there alone. Susan believed that Susan believed that Susan believed that Carlin, who was involved in Carlin, who was involved in Carlin, who was involved in mixed martial mixed martial mixed martial arts, would have been able to arts, would have been able to arts, would have been able to defend herself, if defend herself, if defend herself, if not for one exception. not for one exception. not for one exception. If she didn't If she didn't If she didn't resist, it was only to resist, it was only to resist, it was only to save her save her save her child. Because that's probably the child. Because that's probably the child. Because that's probably the only thing that could only thing that could only thing that could stop her. She would stop her. She would stop her. She would fight, you know, until her fight, you know, until her fight, you know, until her last breath. And last breath. And last breath. And I'm not sure she didn't I'm not sure she didn't I'm not sure she didn't .

. . Police say there is Police say there is Police say there is no apparent motive. no apparent motive. Carlin, did she have any Carlin, did she have any known enemies? known enemies? known enemies? Carlin didn't have one, Carlin didn't have one, Carlin didn't have one, Carlin was a much- Carlin was a much- Carlin was a much- loved loved loved young woman, a young woman, a young woman, a new mother, a new mother, a new mother, a young wife, and young wife, and young wife, and had a very had a very had a very promising promising promising military career. military career. military career. It is impossible to explain It is impossible to explain It is impossible to explain or imagine why or imagine why something something so tragic and so tragic and so tragic and senseless would happen to such a bright future person, who was so loving and caring. senseless would happen to such a bright future person, who was so loving and caring. senseless would happen to such a bright future person, who was so loving and caring. Caring for Caring for Caring for Carlin's daughter, Vale, is what the Carlin's daughter, Vale, is what the entire family is focused on. entire family is focused on. Here, your girlfriend? Here, your girlfriend? Here, your girlfriend? She doesn't have a mother. She doesn't have a mother. She doesn't have a mother. She has a grandmother. She has a grandmother. She has a grandmother. To honor To honor To honor my daughter's memory is to my daughter's memory is to my daughter's memory is to raise her child raise her child raise her child in the best possible way. in the best possible way. They took, you know, They took, you know, not only her life, not only her life, not only her life, they took my they took my they took my best friend. best friend. Sorry. I miss her every day. I miss her every day. I talk to her I talk to her I talk to her every day. every day. every day. She was a beautiful She was a beautiful She was a beautiful soul. She was a soul. She was a soul. She was a beautiful soul.

beautiful soul. beautiful soul. She had a big heart She had a big heart . She had a very . She had a very . She had a very big heart and she big heart and she big heart and she didn't deserve what didn't deserve what didn't deserve what happened to her. And happened to her. And happened to her. And this is my girl. this is my girl. When Crime Watch Daily first When Crime Watch Daily first told you this told you this told you this story, police were story, police were story, police were at a loss. at a loss. at a loss. It seemed that the devoted It seemed that the devoted It seemed that the devoted military mother military mother military mother had no enemies. Who could had no enemies. Who could had no enemies. Who could wish her death? wish her death? wish her death? Now—a dramatic Now—a dramatic Now—a dramatic turn. This woman, turn. This woman, turn. This woman, Delores Delgado, Delores Delgado, Delores Delgado, pleaded guilty pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to involvement in the to involvement in the to involvement in the murder. Delgado is the murder. Delgado is the girlfriend of girlfriend of girlfriend of Carlin's ex-husband, Carlin's ex-husband, Carlin's ex-husband, Army Sergeant Army Sergeant Army Sergeant Malik Kearney. Kearney Malik Kearney. Kearney Malik Kearney. Kearney was also was also was also arrested and arrested and arrested and charged with charged with charged with Carlin's murder. Carlin's murder. Carlin's murder. If he is involved in If he is involved in If he is involved in this, then it is his this, then it is his this, then it is his heavy cross to bear. heavy cross to bear. heavy cross to bear. Court documents Court documents Court documents say the couple say the couple say the couple devised an elaborate devised an elaborate devised an elaborate scheme to cover their scheme to cover their scheme to cover their tracks. Kearney, according to tracks. Kearney, according to tracks. Kearney, according to investigators, investigators, investigators, drove 500 miles from drove 500 miles from drove 500 miles from his base in his base in his base in South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina to Carlin's home in to Carlin's home in to Carlin's home in Maryland. Police Maryland. Police Maryland. Police allege he allege he allege he shot her three times shot her three times , staged the , staged the , staged the crime scene for a botched crime scene for a botched crime scene for a botched sexual assault, sexual assault, sexual assault, placed their daughter in the placed their daughter in the placed their daughter in the murdered woman's arms, and murdered woman's arms, and murdered woman's arms, and drove back to drove back to drove back to South Carolina to South Carolina to go to work the next morning.

go to work the next morning. Delgado reportedly Delgado reportedly provided Kearney with an provided Kearney with an alibi by staying at alibi by staying at alibi by staying at his home with his his home with his his home with his cell phone cell phone cell phone and car. and car. and car. Police say she Police say she Police say she provided the gun and provided the gun and provided the gun and large cans of large cans of large cans of gasoline so Kearney would gasoline so Kearney would gasoline so Kearney would n't have to n't have to n't have to refuel along the refuel along the refuel along the way.