In December, we reported about the death of former soldier Michael Roark, 19, who had spent time living in Snohomish County and still has family here.

Initially, investigators couldn’t say why four soldiers allegedly gunned down Roark and his girlfriend, Tiffany York, 17, in a rural area near an Army post in Georgia. Roark recently had been discharged from the Army.

An Associated Press report released Monday says Roark reportedly had been involved with other soldiers who were part of an anarchist militia group “that stockpiled assault weapons and plotted a range of anti-government attacks.” The group allegedly plotted terrorist attacks in Washington state as well.

Members of the group reportedly believed Roark had betrayed them, and killed him and his girlfriend to silence them.

Roark for a time attended Marysville schools and still has family in the area. His obituary ran in The Herald in December.

You can read the entire Associated Press story here.

Read more:

Original Herald story: Slain soldier had local ties 12/15/2011

Roark’s obituary: Michael Brett Roark