Summary
A law signed by President Donald Trump orders the exhumation of Fernando V. Cota's remains from a veterans' cemetery. Cota, who served in the Vietnam War, was a convicted rapist and suspected serial killer. The law aims to uphold new rules that prevent certain offenders from being buried in national cemeteries.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs must exhume Fernando V. Cota's remains due to a law signed by President Trump.
- The National Defense Authorization Act requires Cota's disinterment from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
- Cota was a Vietnam War veteran and faced rape and murder allegations after returning to the U.S.
- He was convicted in 1975 for attacking and raping a nurse.
- Cota died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1984 when police found him with the body of Kim Marie Dunham.
- Investigations linked Cota to six alleged murder victims.
- New rules against burying convicted criminals in national cemeteries were enacted after Cota's burial in 1984.
- Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz supported the legislation to remove Cota's remains.
