'Ruin a dead man's reputation': Manalapan mom fears blame shift for Navy SEALs death

All along, since Manalapan native Kyle Mullen died of untreated pneumonia after completing the “Hell Week” portion of Navy SEAL training in February 2022, Regina Mullen foresaw the worst in the aftermath.

She predicted influential people would blame her son for his own death.

Now, despite the Navy’s autopsy results, despite a highly detailed 296-page report on the tragedy by Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), despite the expectations of common decency, that is exactly what’s happening.

As the Navy pursues noncriminal charges against two commanding officers and a medical chief (charges whose penalties could include a reduction in rank or removal from service), one of those officers is publicly attempting to shift the blame to Kyle Mullen — and he has the backing of a member of the United States Congress.

'They won't tell me': Manalapan mom gets no details on punishment for Navy SEALs death

'Don't anyone dare smear him'

In a recent interview with the New York Post Capt. Brad Geary — who was in charge of SEAL training when Mullen died — questioned the validity of the autopsy results, pointing instead to allegations of steroid use among the trainees.

And U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican from Long Island, told the Post, “I think that punishing Geary and his fellow officers in light of their stellar records is not supported by the facts.”

Here are the facts as established by NCIS after interviews with SEAL trainees who witnessed Mullen’s death: Although he spat up enough blood-tinged fluid to fill a 32-ounce water bottle, was struggling to breathe, could not walk and was “delirious and disoriented,” he went untreated by the SEAL medical staff, which went home early that day and did not return despite frantic calls from the other trainees.

The Navy’s internal investigation concluded that “wholly inadequate” medical care and “failures across multiple systems” were responsible for Mullen’s death.

You can read full copies of the reports into his death and the Navy response at the bottom of this story.

Yet the officer in charge and a Congressman are trying to point the finger at the deceased 24-year-old former Manalapan High School football standout?

“Don’t anyone dare smear him as a defense of Geary, because that’s atrocious,” U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., whose Congressional district up until this year included Manalapan and who has been following the case all along, told the Asbury Park Press.

“Very upsetting,” Regina Mullen said. “They are just trying to ruin a dead man’s reputation."

Missing the point

The focus on steroids obscures the real problem: Kyle’s Mullen’s death is scandalous because he was left untreated. He could have been saved if he wasn’t ignored.

“Steroids or not, if Kyle was medically treated, he would be alive today,” Regina Mullen wrote in an email to Rear Adm. Brett William Meitus after the comments by Geary and LaLota.

“I'm sorry this continues to play out as it does,” Meitus replied.

Regina won’t let this go because there is still much at stake. The Navy’s investigation and subsequent media reports reveal the lack of medical attention for SEAL trainees to be a chronic problem, even after Congressional protocol for improved care, titled “Kyle Mullen Naval Safety Enhancements,” was sponsored by Smith and codified into law late last year as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

“Regina’s primary concern from the moment I first met with her at her house was that nobody else should have to go through this again,” Smith said. “She has moved mountains to make sure that’s the case.”

The pushback from Geary and LaLota, a Navy veteran, doesn’t inspire confidence that lessons have been learned. Quite the opposite.

“We need more fighters like Geary,” LaLota said.

He might as well rub salt into the grieving mother’s wounds.

'We need a Congressional hearing'

There is one mechanism that could go a long way toward resolving this issue.

“We need a Congressional hearing on this,” Regina Mullen said. “I have many men that are willing to testify.”

Let’s get everyone under oath — former SEAL trainees, Navy officers, medical experts — and literally make a federal case of it. Public pressure goes a long way. Just Friday, the Navy announced it will randomly test special operations forces (including SEALs) for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs beginning in November. That’s a welcome reform.

Now, how about tackling what actually killed Kyle Mullen?

“No mother, no parent, no loved ones should ever have to go through what Ms. Mullen has endured,” U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who sits on the House’s Military Personnel Subcommittee and whose district's borders include Manalapan, said in a statement to the Asbury Park Press. “We need to do a better job of supporting our military families through good times and bad — that includes holding all of our armed services to the highest possible standards for medical care, oversight, transparency and accountability.”

Smith, who expects to be briefed later this month about how his “Kyle Mullen Naval Safety Enhancements” law is being enforced, wants a hearing to happen.

“Get it right,” he said. “Don’t go smearing this man.”

It's sad that such a thing needs to be said. Even sadder: A year and a-half ago, his mother saw this coming.

“They’re going to look to blame it on my son,” Regina Mullen said back then.

How right she was.

NCIS Mullen investigation by Asbury Park Press on Scribd

SN Kyle Mullen Command Investigation by Asbury Park Press on Scribd

Naval Education and Training Command Command Investigation by Asbury Park Press on Scribd

Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Kyle Mullen being blamed for his Navy SEALs death, Manalapan mom fears