US Marine Corps drill instructor charged in overheating death of trainee

The incident occurred at the Parris Island training ground last year when temperatures exceeded 90F during physical exercises

A drill instructor at the US Marine Corps's training grounds on Parris Island, South Carolina, has been charged with negligent homicide after allegedly causing the overheating death of a recruit last year.

The instructor, Staff Sgt Steven T Smiley, was in command when Dalton Beals died while undergoing the so-called Crucible event of recruit training at Parris Island on 4 June 2021, the military news website Task & Purpose reported. Investigators determined that Smiley had failed to adequately supervise Beals, 19, and other recruits, making them endure additional physical training even though the temperature exceeded 90F (32C) that day.