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Allegations of hazing and abuse by 15 Marine drill instructors with ties to Taylor recruit's death

Posted at 11:14 PM, Jun 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-30 23:14:06-04

New alarming allegations have come to light in the death of a Muslim Marine recruit who suddenly died at boot camp.

7 Action News has learned that 15 drill instructors are now under the microscope, and one i sknown for stuffing recruits into a dryer.

Rahaeel Siddiqui, 20, trained at Parris Island, S.C. The high school valedictorian from Taylor died tragically last March under suspicious circumstances that have already cost three command officers their jobs.

"We need to ensure we have a strong military," Rep. Debbie Dingell said. "But we also need to ensure that a recruit won't find themselves in a clothes dryer, or hazed because of their religion."

In the midst of three separate investigations, the Marines have acknowledged serious allegations of hazing, physical abuse and assault.

The day Siddiqui fell 40 feet over a stairwell to his death, his family says he had already fainted and possibly been smacked and subjected to racial slurs because of his Pakistani-American heritage.

The Marine Corps has promised to bring the facts of this case to light.