U.S. Army Pilot Found Dead Off-Base in Honduras
1st Lt. Marciano Parisano, 25, discovered along riverbank near Soto Cano; authorities confirm suspects, rule out robbery
A U.S. Army officer stationed in Honduras was found dead along a riverbank several miles from his base over the weekend, prompting a joint investigation involving both U.S. and Honduran authorities.
1st Lt. Marciano Parisano, a 25-year-old Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was discovered on May 3 along the Chiquito River in Comayagua, a city located approximately five miles from Soto Cano Air Base, where he was stationed.
According to a report from the Honduran National Police, a local citizen alerted authorities around 2:00 p.m. local time after spotting a body along the riverbank. Responding officers launched an immediate investigation and, during a search of the area, recovered a damaged cell phone believed to belong to Parisano.
Parisano was on leave at the time of his death, the U.S. Embassy in Honduras confirmed. The embassy, in coordination with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), is assisting Honduran police with the case.
Honduran authorities stated that suspects have been identified and that robbery has been ruled out as a motive. Officials have not released further information on the suspects or the exact cause of death, which remains under investigation.
Lt. Parisano graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2023 and went on to complete aviation training at Fort Novosel, Alabama. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on November 27, 2024, and Soto Cano was his first duty station.
During his service, Parisano earned several military honors, including:
National Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold)
Air Assault Badge
Army Aviation Wings
In a statement released Tuesday, Colonel Daniel Alder, commander of Joint Task Force-Bravo, expressed his condolences:
“Our deepest sympathies are with the Parisano family and our Soto Cano family while we mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Marciano Parisano,” Col. Alder said.
No arrests have been made as of this publication. Authorities urge anyone with information related to the case to contact local law enforcement.
Updates will follow as the investigation develops.