Parris Island Marine Corps Drill Instructor Found Dead in Apartment

Published Jul 23, 11:57 PM UTC

Sgt. Darilyn C. Duong, a 25-year-old drill instructor assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, was found dead in her apartment in Port Royal, South Carolina, on July 17, 2026. The Marine Corps confirmed the death, with the cause under investigation. Duong, a native of Winnebago, Nebraska, served with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion and was single with no dependents. She enlisted as a Food Service Specialist before becoming a drill instructor. This marks the second death of a Parris Island drill instructor in two months, following the May 30 death of Sgt. Albert Haynes II, 24, found dead in a Florida hotel room. The Marine Corps extended condolences and declined to release further details pending investigation.