On August 6, 2015, Washington State Patrol (WSP) Detective and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force Officer (TFO) Brent L. Hanger was participating in a joint WSP and DEA marijuana eradication effort on public lands outside of Yakima, Washington. This operation was conducted as part of the DEA Seattle Division’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program. TFO Hanger was hiking with other members of the Reconnaissance and Arrest Team following a tip on a suspected large-scale outdoor grow operation when he suffered chest pains which required immediate medical attention. Attempts by on-scene medical personnel to revive TFO Hanger proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
On August 28, 2008, while attending the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Special Agent Thomas J. Byrne was attacked and severely beaten and mugged while walking to his hotel. After multiple surgeries, he succumbed to his injuries on August 30, 2008.
Frank S. Wallace, Jr. was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. This mission was being flown as part of Operation Snowcap, DEA's cocaine suppression program in Latin America. He was 37 years of age at the time of his death.
Juan C. Vars was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. This mission was being flown as part of Operation Snowcap, DEA's cocaine suppression program in Latin America. He was 32 years of age at the time of his death.
Meredith Thompson was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. This mission was being flown as part of Operation Snowcap, DEA's cocaine suppression program in Latin America. She was 33 years of age at the time of her death.
Jay W. Seale was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. This mission was being flown as part of Operation Snowcap, DEA's cocaine suppression program in Latin America. He was 31 years of age at the time of his death.
Frank Fernandez, Jr. was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents killed on August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. This mission was being flown as part of Operation Snowcap, DEA's cocaine suppression program in Latin America. He was 38 years of age at the time of his death.
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent/Pilot Alan H. Winn, 37, was killed August 13, 1991, in a helicopter crash during an operations flight over the island of Hawaii.
Special Agent Arthur L. Cash graduated from West Virginia University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduating from college, Special Agent Cash served as a Border Patrol Agent with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Agent Cash joined DEA in 1974 and was transferred to the San Luis District Office in Arizona, and then to the Miami Field Division. In March 1987, he was assigned to open the Sierra Vista Post of Duty in Arizona.
Ms. Susan M. Hoefler, an office assistant at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Guadalajara, Mexico Resident Office, died on August 16, 1986, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident in Guadalajara. She was 32 years of age at the time of her death.
Ms. Mary P. Sullivan, a clerk-typist at the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the Miami Regional Office building. She was 56 years of age at the time of her death.
Ms. Martha D. Skeels, a supervisory clerk-typist at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the Miami Regional Office building. She was 50 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Anna J. Pope, a fiscal assistant at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the Miami Regional Office building. She was 54 years of age at the time of her death.
Ms. Anna Y. Mounger, a secretary at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the Miami Regional Office building. She was 24 years of age at the time of her death. The cause of the collapse was the use of inferior building materials used by the contractor who constructed the building shortly after World War II.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Charles H. Mann died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the DEA Miami Regional Office building. He was 31 years of age at the time of his death.
Ms. Mary M. Keehan, secretary to the Acting Regional Director of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the Miami Regional Office building. She was 27 years of age at the time of her death.
Prior to joining DEA in March, 1974, Special Agent Nickolas Fragos was a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran who had been awarded a Silver Star, two Bronze stars, a Purple Heart and two Army commendation medals for his service as a medic. After serving his country in Vietnam, Special Agent Fragos returned to the Detroit, Michigan area where he earned Bachelor Degrees in political science and psychology at Wayne State University. He also served as a medical assistant with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Emir Benitez died August 9, 1973, at Broward County General Hospital from a gunshot wound he received during an undercover cocaine investigation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 28 years of age at the time of his death.
