Green Beret colonel is allowed to quietly retire by the Army after 'beating up his wife and threatening to kill her in front of their two young children during two hour stand-off with cops'
A Special Forces Green Beret colonel accused of brutally attacking his wife and threatening to kill her during a two-hour standoff with cops will be allowed to quietly retire with the permission of the US Army.
A memo from the US Army Human Resources Command from July 2, 2021 revealed that a review committee headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Michael I. Mahoney determined that Ray will be allowed to retire next month, according to Connecting Vets.
The terms of his retirement were entirely unaffected by the criminal charges, with Ray not receiving any reduction in his rank or pay grade.
'If he was a E-4 (junior rank) he would be busted down to a E-nothing and be sitting in Leavenworth,' said whistleblower and military trauma victim advocate Amy Franck.
'This type of cover-up is a clear message to victims to not report because the military will protect your offender because their rank is worth more than the violence done against you.'
Col. Owen G. Ray Col. Owen Ray (left), 1st Special Forces Group commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Curran, command sergeant major of 4th Battalion, 1st SFG
In January 2020, Army Colonel Owen G. Ray, and his wife, Kristen, got into an argument at their DuPont, Washington home, after she believed him to be intoxicated, DailyMail.com reported at the time.
When officers arrived on the scene, the 47-year-old, armed with a shotgun and two pistols, reportedly warned that if anyone tried to arrest him, he would kill them and himself, it is claimed.
'Bitch, I'm going to kill you!' Ray allegedly yelled to his wife outside according to Army documents, beating and stomping on her before barricading the home.
Kristen, who told responding officers that Ray had physically abused her often, said she became frightened during the argument and hid in the bedroom of her two young children, ages 7 and 10.
The Green Beret threatened to kill his wife Kirsten (right) in front of his children before holding them hostage during drunken two-hour stand-off with police
His eldest daughter, 16, called police and, when officers arrived, they reported that Ray was holding them hostage.
Ray finally surrendered to police two hours later.
He was charged with multiple counts of felony assault and harassment as well as kidnapping and reckless endangerment.
Connecting Vets reports that Ray was working as the chief of staff for I Corps commander Lt. Gen. Randy George at the time of the crime, after a long and distinguished Army career.
The outlet reports that Ray left a trail of complaints and reports to the Inspector General from former colleagues and teammates, alleging bullying and berating behavior.
The terms of Ray's retirement were entirely unaffected by the criminal charges, with the disgraced officer not receiving any reduction in his rank or pay grade
Ray was charged with multiple counts of felony assault and harassment as well as kidnapping and reckless endangerment
However, those reports and complaints fell on deaf ears and were ultimately ignored by top brass, according to the Army Times.
Franck revealed that the Department of Defense often allow high-ranking officers who are accused or convicted of crimes to retire without docking their pay or rank, citing the officer's family members ability to receive pensions and benefits.
However Franck says 'that's bullsh*t. It's called Transitional Assistance. They can give them all of his money when he goes to jail.'
'Allowing him to retire at his current grade is a clear message to victims that they don't care, that his rank is more important than you. He should be held accountable,' Franck, who is the founder of the Never Alone advocacy group explained.
'He did not serve honorably,' she said.
Army Public Affairs did not immediately respond to Connecting Vets request for comment, the outlet reports.
Meanwhile, the disgraced veteran is still facing non-Army related criminal charges in Washington after his retirement next month, with his trial scheduled for September 15th.
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