Pictures of U.S. soldiers posing with Afghan corpse hit media

Graphic photos of U.S. soldiers posing with Afghan corpses have surfaced in the media, according to The Post-Standard. The photos were being kept under wraps by the army for a possible war-crimes investigation.

The photos were among those seized by Army investigators who are looking into the deaths of three unarmed Afghans last year. As a result, five soldiers have been charged with murder and conspiracy. 

These killings occurred during patrol in January, February and March of 2010. One of the soldiers in the photos, Cpl. Jeremy Morlock, sent Facebook messages to his parents telling them he he had murdered a civilian with his colleagues and was planning on killing more. He warned his family not to tell anyone.

The man's father notified the staff sergeant at his son's post but no action was taken until May when a separate witness reported the murders.  

Morlock has made statements claiming that the murder plot was not led by him and he only shot when ordered to do so.

Morlock has agreed to plead guilty to murder, conspiracy and other charges and testify against his co-defendants for a maximum 24-year sentence.