Senior Airman Tamera Bolden-Cleckley was a 26-year-old diagnostic imaging specialist stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Her life came to a sudden halt on Wednesday morning, September 23, 2026, when a base worker spotted a burned vehicle parked near Range Road 234 and Lewis Turner Boulevard in Okaloosa County.
The base employee immediately called emergency dispatchers to report the burned-out car sitting along the roadside. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found Bolden-Cleckley dead inside the vehicle.
Deputies with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and patrol officers from the 96th Security Forces Squadron arrived shortly after the initial call. Officers quickly taped off the surrounding area to protect evidence around the car.
Because the incident involved active-duty military personnel, local sheriff’s deputies turned the primary investigation over to federal authorities. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is now handling the case and trying to piece together what happened.
Bolden-Cleckley was originally from Boerne, Texas, and enlisted in the United States Air Force back in 2021. She worked as a radiology technician with the 96th Surgical Operations Squadron, helping perform medical imaging for patients on base.
Col. Chris Keithley, commander of the 96th Test Wing, recognized Bolden-Cleckley as a valued member of the unit and offered condolences to her family. The Air Force has assigned mental health counselors to support her co-workers and friends on base.
Federal agents have not yet released details regarding what caused the vehicle to catch fire or how it ended up near the road. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations continues to ask anyone with information about the incident to come forward as the probe moves forward.
Leave a Reply