Removal of Suspected Serial Killer’s Remains from Military Cemetery
The body of a suspected serial killer has been removed from a U.S. military cemetery following the enactment of a new law that addresses a loophole permitting such gravesites for decades.
Fernando Cota’s remains were taken from the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, last week. This change resulted from a prolonged effort by the victim’s family and was supported by Texas senators, culminating in legislation signed by President Trump in December.
Cota was drafted into the Army in the mid-1960s and served in Vietnam until 1975. It was during this time that he was first convicted for assaulting, restraining, and raping a nurse.
After serving a 20-year prison sentence, Cota committed suicide in 1984 at the age of 38, shortly after police stopped him on a California highway. The following day, authorities discovered the body of 21-year-old Kim Marie Dunham in his van.
Investigators eventually connected Cota to several sexual assaults and identified him as the primary suspect in the murders of six young women in San Jose, California. It appears he had created an alarming setup in his home—a torture chamber found tucked away in a small closet.
During the investigation, police also uncovered a fake ID, a phony police badge, multiple women’s garments, and rental flyers aimed at students near San Jose State University, where he had advertised available apartments.
Reports indicate his victims were likely killed by strangulation, stabbing, or beating, prompting detectives to believe he may have taken his life to escape life in prison or execution.
Despite his extensive criminal history and public outcry, Cota was interred at Fort Sam Houston, largely due to legal ambiguities that had persisted for years. However, the new federal law—38 U.S.C. § 2411—now prohibits the burial and memorialization of veterans who commit horrific crimes, a measure that wasn’t enacted until after Cota’s death.
This law, spearheaded by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) with assistance from fellow Senator Ted Cruz, mandated the removal of Cota’s body by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins.
In a release, Cornyn noted, “Thanks to the legislation I pushed for, the remains of convicted rapist and serial killer Fernando V. Cota will no longer be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.” He expressed gratitude toward Secretary Collins and the Department of Veterans Affairs for their prompt action, emphasizing the importance of providing closure to the victims’ families and restoring dignity to the heroes resting in that sacred ground.
It’s uncertain what has happened to Cota’s remains following their removal, as there hasn’t been any confirmation about whether they were returned to relatives or reburied elsewhere.
