McClatchy Washington Bureau

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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Military investigators are looking into the unexplained deaths of 10 infants whose families lived in base housing.

There are no indications of foul play, investigators say, but they are trying to determine whether there are any common factors among the cases. The deaths all took place since 2007, including two this year.

The investigation began about a month ago, when base officials realized that two babies had died three months apart last year after living in the same house at different times, said Brig. Gen. Michael Garrett, chief of staff of the 18th Airborne Corps.

A third child who lived in the house died in 2007.

Causes of death in seven of the 10 cases were ruled "undetermined" by military pathologists. One has been attributed to sudden infant death syndrome. Two are still under investigation.

Besides the possibility of SIDS, Army investigators are looking for anything the children might have been exposed to that could have put them at risk.

They also are looking at the houses where the children lived.

Fort Bragg has more than 6,200 housing units with more than 18,000 residents. Forty-five thousand single soldiers live on base, mostly in group housing.

For the past seven years, all base housing has been operated by Picerne Military Housing, a private contractor that also runs housing at Fort Meade, Fort Riley, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk and Aberdeen Proving Ground. John Shay, program manager for Picerne at Fort Bragg, said he knew of no similar investigations at any other bases.

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