Murder of Vanessa Guillén explained

Murder of Vanessa Guillén
Map:File:Bell FortHood.svg
Location:Fort Hood, Texas, U.S.
Fatalities:2 (including the perpetrator two months later)
Type:Murder by bludgeoning, murder-suicide
Victim:Vanessa Guillén
Perpetrator:Aaron David Robinson
Convicted:Cecily Anne Aguilar
Convictions:Aguilar:
Accessory after-the-fact, making false statements (3 counts)

Child:yes
Sentence:Aguilar:
30 years in prison
Outcome:Executive order signed by Joe Biden establishing sexual harassment as an offense in the UCMJ
Assailant:-->
Weapon:Hammer
Numpart:-->
Dfen:-->
Motive:Cover-up of Robinson’s harassment and sexual assault of Guillén

The murder of Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old United States Army soldier, took place inside an armory at Fort Hood, Texas, on April22, 2020, when she was bludgeoned to death by another soldier, Aaron David Robinson. Guillén had been missing for more than two months before some of her dismembered, burned remains were found buried along the Leon River on June30. Robinson fled Fort Hood after learning of the discovery. When law enforcement tried to apprehend him in nearby Killeen, Texas, he fatally shot himself.[1] [2]

Cecily Aguilar, a local woman identified as Robinson's girlfriend, was taken into custody and is alleged to have assisted him in dismembering and burying Guillén's body. On July2, 2020, Aguilar was charged with one federal count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. On July13, 2021, she was indicted on eleven counts by a federal grand jury.[3] On November 29, 2022 Aguilar pleaded guilty to accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of making a false statement.[4] On August 14, 2023, Aguilar was sentenced to the maximum of 30 years for her role in covering up the murder of Guillén.

Guillen had long had the goal of serving in the Army but, after being assigned to Fort Hood, told friends and family of being sexually harassed by a superior. She did not report it officially for fear of retaliation, as such reports were supposed to go through the chain of command.

People involved

Victim

Satisfying a longterm goal, Guillén joined the United States Army in June 2018. She trained as a 91F, Small Arms and Artillery Repairer, and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.[7] Guillén was posthumously advanced from Private First Class to the rank of Specialist on July1, 2020.[8]

Perpetrators

Investigation

Guillén was stationed at Fort Hood, a U.S. Army installation in Bell County, Texas. Approximately in size, it is one of the military's largest installations. It is home to III Corps and the First Cavalry Division.

She was last seen around 1:00 p.m. on April22, 2020, in the parking lot of her unit, the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (3CR). Her car keys, identification card, bank card, and barracks key were found inside the armory where she worked. Guillén's family believed that she would not have left these items behind voluntarily and thought there were suspicious circumstances. The case was initially investigated under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID). and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with local law enforcement agencies in Bell County, Killeen, and Belton; the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; the United States Marshals Service; and the Texas Ranger Division in support. Multiple Fort Hood units, including 3CR, began searching the area within two weeks of her disappearance.

Before Guillén went missing, she had told her family that she was being sexually harassed by an unnamed sergeant at Fort Hood,[10] and that complaints made by other female soldiers against the sergeant had been dismissed by officials.[11] Guillén's mother advised her to report the matter, but she responded that "she could put a stop to it herself".[12] Guillén said she feared retaliation if she made a report. Her mother was at risk as an undocumented immigrant.

In early June, Guillén's mother told reporters she did not trust the Army's handling of the investigation. Her attorney, Natalie Khawam,[13] said she believed the family was "being kept in the dark"; the Army had released few details regarding the young soldier's disappearance.[14]

On June13, 2020, hundreds of people assembled at the gates of Fort Hood to protest what the family and supporters believed was a lack of information on the case. CID reported that they found no evidence that Guillén was assaulted, but said investigators believed foul play was involved in her disappearance.[15] On June17, the League of United Latin American Citizens added a $25,000 reward to the existing $25,000 reward announced by the Army for finding Guillén.

On June 23, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), in whose district Guillén's family resides, met with Fort Hood officials to discuss the ongoing search.[16] The authorities said that more than 300 interviews had been conducted and they spent more than 10,000 hours investigating Guillén's disappearance.[17] On July 27, 2020, Guillén's mother, who had previously been detained for illegal immigration, was granted parole in place by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the assistance of Garcia and immigration attorney Luis Gomez Alfaro.[18]

Discovery of remains

On June30, 2020, Army investigators were called in when private contractors discovered partial human remains along the Leon River in Belton.[19] The area had previously been searched by Texas Rangers, detectives, and cadaver dogs on June20 after a burn mound was discovered nearby. Investigators theorized that the remains, previously buried under concrete, had been dug up by wildlife. Tim Miller, Director of Texas EquuSearch, stated that it was the most sophisticated burial site he had ever seen.

Later that evening, at around 8:30p.m., authorities re-interviewed Cecily Anne Aguilar, a local woman. She was estranged from her husband, a soldier at Fort Hood. Aguilar was reported to be the girlfriend of Aaron David Robinson, a specialist-ranked enlisted soldier who was one of the last people known to have seen Guillén on the day of her disappearance. He had previously been interviewed by investigators. Aguilar told police that Robinson had confessed to her that he had killed a female soldier at Fort Hood. At the request of law enforcement, Aguilar placed a controlled telephone call to Robinson, who said, "Baby, they found pieces", and texted Robinson multiple news articles. He did not deny any facts of the articles. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Western District Court of Texas, Aguilar allegedly helped Robinson dismember and dispose of Guillén's body on April22, 2020, after Robinson told her he had bludgeoned the soldier to death with a hammer inside the armory.

A number of other soldiers had recently been reported missing at Fort Hood. During the course of the search for Vanessa Guillen, the remains of two other soldiers were discovered. Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, was pronounced dead shortly after the discovery of his body near Stillhouse Hollow Lake on July 17. [20]

The body of Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, 23, was discovered June 19 buried in a field at the end of a Killeen cul-de-sac.[21]

Arrests

On the evening of June30, Robinson escaped the custody of an unarmed guard from his unit. He fled Fort Hood after having learned of the discovery of remains. He had been detained by his unit at the request of a CID agent under the pretense of violating COVID-19 quarantine rules.[22] [23] In the early hours of July1, Killeen police located and attempted to make contact with Robinson, who pulled out a handgun and killed himself before he could be taken into custody.[24]

Aguilar was arrested by Texas Rangers and held at the Bell County Jail. On July2, Bell County officials stated Aguilar would be transferred to federal custody due to being charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas.[25] [26] Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Frazier and Greg Gloff prosecuted the case on behalf of the federal government.[27]

Motive

On May 24, 2022 the Texas Department of Public Safety released a report stating that "Aguilar later explained why Robinson killed Guillén, saying Guillén saw Robinson's cellphone lock screen, which contained a picture of Aguilar. (Robinson) told her he was worried about getting in trouble for violating the Army's fraternization rules since Aguilar was still married to another soldier and he hit Guillén in the head with a hammer."[28]

Timeline

Memorials

A mural in honor of Guillén was created in her hometown of Houston by a local artist.[34] The mural portrays her with the flags of both the United States and Mexico, the latter due to her Mexican American ethnicity.[35] Another mural is dedicated to her at Taqueria del Sol in the Park Place neighborhood.[36]

Multiple people have written corridos (songs) about her.[5]

On July6, 2020, at city hall in Richmond, California, a memorial of candles, along with tea lights spelling out “Vanessa,” were displayed in front of a makeshift altar. Hundreds of people gathered to honour Guillén and other victims of sexual violence and mistreatment within the military.[37]

On April19, 2021, Lieutenant General Robert P. White, commander of III Corps and Fort Hood unveiled that one out of the 27 gates that grant entry to Fort Hood will be renamed "The Vanessa Guillén Gate" with a plaque in her honor. The gate is the main entry point to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, where Guillén worked in an arms room as a small arms repairer.[38] [39]

In 2022 the Park Place post office in Houston was renamed after Guillén.[40]

Later developments

Guillén's family called for justice and improvement of the way claims of sexual harassment are handled by the military.[41] Guillén's mother stated publicly that she had spoken to witnesses who heard two shots at the moment of Robinson's death, and said she believed that Robinson was executed by authorities as part of a coverup involving senior members of the military.[42]

On July10, 2020, the Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy announced that he would order a "full independent review" of Guillén's case.[43]

On July30, 2020, Guillen's family met with President Donald Trump regarding her murder.

On December8, 2020, McCarthy announced the results of the investigation, and disciplined 14 U.S. commanders and other leaders at Fort Hood, citing multiple "leadership failures".[44] The investigation found that there was a "permissive environment for sexual assault and sexual harassment at Fort Hood."[45] Among those disciplined by McCarthy were Major General Scott L. Efflandt, Colonel Ralph Overland and Command Sergeant Major Bradley Knapp. The Army suspended Major General Jeffery Broadwater and Command Sergeant Major Thomas C. Kenny, pending the outcome of a new investigation into the 1st Cavalry Division's command climate and program for preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault. Disciplinary measures were also taken against soldiers and leaders assigned below brigade level; however, the Army does not, as a matter of policy, "...release the names of the battalion level and below commanders and leaders who received administrative action".[46]

During the December8 Pentagon press conference, McCarthy said that Guillén's murder "shocked our conscience and brought attention to deeper problems" at Fort Hood and across the Army more widely. He said it "forced us to take a critical look at our systems, our policies, and ourselves."[47]

Broadwater did not receive any disciplinary action following an investigation of the 1st Cavalry Division's command climate; he turned command of the Division over to Major General John B. Richardson in July 2021. Broadwater was subsequently assigned as deputy commander of V Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky.[48]

Civil suit

In August 2022, the Guillén family filed a civil lawsuit against the United States Army seeking $35 million in damages for the sexual harassment, assault and wrongful death of their daughter Vanessa while serving in the military.[49]

Legislation named for Guillen

Representation in other media

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Jones . Kay . Pfc. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death on Army base, family attorney says . 3 July 2020 . 3 July 2020.
  2. News: Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guillén likely found, family says, as suspect kills himself. Washington Post. Horton. Alex. Hernández. Arelis R.. July 1, 2020. 5 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Cecily Aguilar indicted on 11 counts for involvement in Vanessa Guillen's death. July 14, 2021.
  4. Web site: Boyd . Megan . 2022-11-29 . Cecily Aguilar pleads guilty to felony charges for involvement in Vanessa Guillen’s murder . 2024-06-12 . KWTX . en.
  5. Web site: Banks. Gabrielle . Tallet. Olivia P.. Dellinger. Hannah. Portrait of a fallen soldier. Houston Chronicle. 2020-07-26. 2020-08-19.
  6. Web site: Egan. Leigh. June 17, 2020. 'How can you not have these answers?': Reward reaches $55K as desperate search for missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen continues. CrimeOnline.
  7. Web site: Rempfer. Kyle. 2020-07-02. Missing Fort Hood soldier was killed in armory, then hacked to pieces, family's attorney says. 2020-07-03. Army Times. en-US.
  8. Web site: Bennett . Abbie . July 1, 2020 . Army to investigate Fort Hood SHARP program after disappearance of PFC Vanessa Guillen . July 2, 2020 . Connecting Vets . en.
  9. News: Calumet City Soldier Aaron David Robinson Was Main Suspect In Murder Of Fellow Soldier Vanessa Guillen . 2 July 2020 . 2 CBS Chicago . 2 July 2020.
  10. Web site: Lee. Alicia. June 17, 2020. Reward for missing soldier Vanessa Guillen grows to over $50,000 after Latino group and rapper add to it. CNN.
  11. Web site: McCarthy. Tyler. June 15, 2020. Salma Hayek uses social media to find missing US Army soldier Vanessa !!!!Guillen. Fox News.
  12. Web site: Brito. Christopher. June 17, 2020. Reward for missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen doubles to $50,000. CBS News.
  13. Web site: Missing Fort Hood soldier was killed in armory, then hacked to pieces, family's attorney says. Kyle. Rempfer. July 2, 2020. Army Times.
  14. Web site: Allen. Jack. June 13, 2020. Hundreds rally to seek answers for missing soldier Pfc. Vanessa Guillen. 25 ABC.
  15. Web site: Osbourne. Heather. Foul play suspected in Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen's disappearance. July 1, 2020. USA TODAY. June 24, 2020 .
  16. News: June 23, 2020. Vanessa Guillen search: Lawmaker suspects foul play in the disappearance of Texas soldier. 6 ABC Action News. June 23, 2020.
  17. News: Fort Hood says they have found no connection with sexual harassment and Guillen's disappearance . 2 July 2020 . KXXV 25 ABC News . 2 July 2020.
  18. Web site: Caldwell . Jasmin . July 31, 2020 . Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia hosts virtual update on Vanessa Guillén case . 2020-09-25 . kcentv.com . en-US.
  19. News: Bonvillian . Crystal . 6 July 2020 . She 'never made it out of the Army alive': Affidavit details killing of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen . 2020-08-11 . Fox23 News.
  20. Web site: 2020-07-22 . Map: Body of third Fort Hood soldier discovered. 2024-07-14 . Mercury News . en.
  21. Web site: 2020-07-22 . Map: Body of third Fort Hood soldier discovered. 2024-07-14 . Mercury News . en.
  22. News: Philipps . Dave . 2021-04-30 . Military Missteps Allowed Soldier Accused of Murder to Flee, Report Says . 2024-06-12 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  23. News: Alex . Horton . Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guillén identified by Army, family says . July 5, 2020 . 2020-08-11. Washington Post .
  24. News: Garcia . John . Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death by fellow soldier, attorney says; suspect ID'd as Calumet City man . 13 June 2022 . . July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20220613050316/https://abc7chicago.com/vanessa-guillen-aaron-robinson-update-bludgeoned/6294382/. 13 June 2022.
  25. News: Aleman . Christian . July 2, 2020 . Vanessa Guillen killed with hammer and her body mutilated, affidavit says . July 3, 2020 . KCEN-TV.
  26. News: Rempfer . Kyle . Civilian charged in plot to dismember and hide remains of murdered Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen . 4 July 2020 . Army Times . 3 July 2020.
  27. Web site: 2020-07-02. Killeen Woman Faces Federal Charge in Connection with the Disappearance of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen. 2020-07-06. justice.gov. en.
  28. Web site: Lodhia . Pooja . 2022-05-25 . New court documents in Vanessa Guillen's case reveal possible motive for murder . 2024-06-12 . ABC13 Houston . en.
  29. Web site: Public's Help Sought in Locating Fort Hood Soldier. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722144234/https://www.cid.army.mil/assets/docs/press-releases/Fort%20Hood%20Missing%20Soldier.pdf. July 22, 2020.
  30. Web site: Army Senior Leaders Update Reporters on U.S. Army Response to COVID-19. 2020-07-06. U.S. Department of Defense. en-US.
  31. Web site: Carvajal . Nikki . 2020-07-30 . Trump meets with family of Vanessa Guillen and pledges to help CNN Politics . 2024-06-12 . CNN . en.
  32. Web site: Coronado . Acacia . 2022-11-30 . Texas woman pleads guilty to role in Vanessa Guillen's death . 2022-11-30 . AP NEWS . en.
  33. Web site: Cohen . Zachary . Browne . Ryan . December 8, 2020 . Army punishes 14 senior officers after murder and other deaths at Fort Hood . December 8, 2020 . CNN.
  34. Web site: Parker . T.J. . Houston artists pay tribute to Vanessa Guillen . ABC Eyewitness News . July 2, 2020 . 8 December 2020.
  35. Web site: Okolie, Stefania. New mural pays tribute to Vanessa Guillen in her neighborhood. KTRK-TV. 2020-07-07. 2020-07-31.
  36. Web site: Mayor Turner honors Vanessa Guillen with visit to mural. KTRK-TV. 2020-07-04. 2020-07-31.
  37. Web site: 2020-07-18. 'It's like she's my daughter': After Vanessa Guillén's killing, a California city reckons with the military. 2020-08-11. the Guardian. Abené . Clayton.
  38. Web site: Fort Hood unveils gate and plaque honoring Vanessa Guillén. Cynthia Silva. nbcnews.com. April 19, 2021. April 21, 2021.
  39. Web site: Fort Hood names gate after slain Spc. Vanessa Guillen. Rose L. Thayer. strips.com. April 19, 2021. April 21, 2021.
  40. Web site: Roman. Natalie. Houston post office will soon be renamed after Vanessa Guillén. Houston Public Media. 2022-05-12. 2023-02-19.
  41. News: Horton . Alex . 2020-09-17 . Proposed Vanessa Guillén law would transform military’s sexual misconduct inquiries . 2024-06-12 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286.
  42. News: Guillen. Gloria. March 10, 2021. "Interview with Gloria Guillen". KPFA FM Free Speech Radio. March 10, 2021.
  43. News: Army secretary pledges "full, independent review" in Vanessa Guillen case . Suzanne . Gamboa . July 11, 2020 . NBC News . July 10, 2020.
  44. News: Fort Hood: Soldiers fired and suspended after Vanessa Guillen probe. BBC News. December 8, 2020.
  45. News: Acevedo . Nicole . Kube . Courtney . December 8, 2020 . 14 Fort Hood leaders disciplined as probe finds 'permissive environment for sexual assault' at the Army base . December 8, 2020 . NBC News .
  46. Web site: Secretary McCarthy holds Fort Hood Leaders Accountable, Announces New Investigations . Army.mil . 9 December 2020.
  47. Web site: Kates . Graham . 14 fired or suspended following Fort Hood investigation into Vanessa Guillén's death . . December 9, 2020 . 9 December 2020.
  48. Web site: New general takes command of Fort Hood's 1st Cavalry Division after investigation clears former commander of wrongdoing. 2021-07-21. Rose L. Thayer. Stars and Stripes.
  49. Web site: Family of murdered Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen files $35M lawsuit against U.S. Army . Wallace . Danielle. Fox News. 14 August 2022. 6 August 2024.
  50. Web site: Vanessa Guillén Act signed into Texas state law. cbs4local.com/news. Gutierrez . Javier. 19 June 2021. 6 August 2024.
  51. Web site: New law named for Vanessa Guillén will revamp military investigations into sexual assault, harassment. Texas Tribune. Larson . Ren. The Texas Tribune and Pro Publica. 20 December 2021 . 6 August 2024.
  52. Web site: Executive Order, 2022 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial. January 26, 2022 . whitehouse.gov . 6 August 2024.
  53. Web site: I Am Vanessa. 11 September 2020. ABC 20/20. abc.com.