The mother of a marine recruit from Pennsville who died during boot camp last year says military investigators could soon file criminal charges in her son’s case.

Pvt. First-Class Dalton Beals, 19, died in June 2021 from hyperthermia and heat related injuries. He was in the midst of a 54-hour final endurance program called the Crucible.

His mother, Stacie, met Wednesday with Marine leadership and prosecutors at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island.

“I’m not anti-military, I’m not anti-Marines and I wanted them to know that,” says Stacie. “With any facility or any group, you always have some bad ones. Police force, whatever capacity, and I believe that’s the situation that happened with my son.”

Dalton was missing for an hour before he was found unconscious. A Marine Corps report found some of the training he was forced to go through was unauthorized and not properly supervised.

“It could have been so much different. Dalton should be here today,” she says.

The Marines have already changed training procedures for the Crucible and a criminal investigation is ongoing.

On Aug. 4, a motorcycle ride through Pennsville will honor Beals.