US Army reportedly knew a Soldier was an active serial child predator

The US Army reportedly knew about a Soldier at Fort Cavazos being an active serial child predator but let him victimize at least 120 children, according to a lawsuit filed by the mothers of two of his victims.

“My child is suffering today,” said Gabryelle Daniels, one of the mothers.

Daniels’ 13-year-old daughter was assaulted by the soldier, Rashad Parkinson, in the summer of 2021.

“This lawsuit is about accountability, policy changes, and bringing the issues to light,” she said.

Parkinson, who was an Army private at the time, was noticed by the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in late 2019.

The lawsuit, filed on August 21 in Texas, doesn’t say exactly what led the Army to investigate him in February 2020.

Around the same time, the Killeen Police Department also started looking into Parkinson.

The lawsuit does not explain why the investigation stalled.

Before the Army restricted Parkinson to the barracks on November 2, 2021, two other police departments had begun investigating him.

The very next day, the Copperas Cove Police arrested him for raping three girls, aged 12 and 13.

Parkinson, who was convicted in March 2023, is now serving time in a Texas prison, where he will likely be targeted by other prisoners and won’t be eligible for parole until 2056.

Jessica Nichols, another mother in the lawsuit, said it was hard to come forward, but she did it to force the Army to improve.

The woman’s 13-year-old daughter was assaulted in May 2021.

“The military likes to hide things,” she said. “They weren’t keeping track of him. He should have been kept on base so he couldn’t hurt more kids.”

The lawsuit was filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act after the Army refused administrative claims from the mothers.

According to Stars and Stripes, the lawsuit seeks compensation for the girls’ physical and emotional pain, future medical needs, lost income, and expenses.

The suit also covers the mothers’ lost wages and medical costs.

“These mothers had to change their lives completely to take care of their daughters,” said Mary Whittle, their attorney. “It’s affected every part of their lives. Even though he’s in prison, they want the Army to take responsibility for letting him continue.”

The Army CID did not comment on the case because of the lawsuit.

Colonel Kamil Sztalkoper, a spokesman for Fort Cavazos, called Parkinson’s crimes “heinous” but also declined to comment on the ongoing legal case.

“Our soldiers, civilians, and families deserve safe, respectful environments,” he said in a statement. “We are committed to preventing sexual assaults by creating a climate of dignity.”

This lawsuit happened during a time when Fort Cavazos (then called Fort Hood) was under scrutiny for problems with crime investigations and sexual assault.

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