Vanessa Guillen's 2020 murder triggered a federal lobbying campaign to change how sexual misconduct claims are reported in the military. Robinson, 20, killed himself on Wednesday after police confronted him in Killeen, according to US Army Criminal Investigation Command, which calls itself CID. [9] Her car keys, identification card, bank card, and barracks key were found inside the armory where she worked. A colleague told investigators her wallet, ID and keys were still there when he locked up for the day, according to the documents. [3][4][5], Cecily Aguilar, a local woman identified by authorities as Robinson's girlfriend, was taken into custody and is alleged to have assisted him in dismembering and burying Guilln's body. Rogelio, Vanessas father, told me how Vanessa dreamed of joining the Army when she was 12 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Army Spc. THE fianc of murdered soldier Vanessa Guilln found out her body was dismembered and buried under concrete on Twitter as he reveals the last time he saw her in a new interview. "She was a person to be strong and from those two criteria, I've learned till this day, and especially during her disappearance and death, to not give up to fight and to be brave enough to speak up, because she wasn't given the right to speak up," she said. Updated Cecily Aguilar will try everything in her power to walk freely as we are being denied the truth at this very moment, Guillens sister Mayra toldABC13 News. [5] Tim Miller, Director of Texas EquuSearch, stated that it was the most sophisticated burial site he had ever seen. Court documents say that Robinson told Aguilar he repeatedly "bludgeoned" Vanessa in the head with a hammer at Fort Hood, and that she died from the wounds. The documents say he then hid her body in a large box, which he and Aguilar later tried to dismember and burn. This came just hours after investigators discovered Tuesday the partial remains of a body near the Leon River in rural Bell County, where Killeen is located. Philipps, Dave (April 30, 2021) Military Missteps Allowed Soldier Accused of Murder to Flee, Report Says. Keon Aguilar told investigators he and his friend had returned from getting food the night of April 22 and parked across from the barracks, near the entrance to the armory in the basement. Fort Hood Military Police While authorities have not confirmed it, Guillens family believes the The Army said Tuesday that those relieved of duty include Major General Scott L. Efflandt, Colonel Ralph Overland and Command Sergeant Major Bradley Knapp. Vanessa Guillen has moved veterans around the country to tell their story. Vanessas sister also recalled calling the staff sergeant after her sister's disappearance, only to be told that they didnt know anything about Vanessa. He said she left the arms room and he believed she would have next gone to the motor pool, the previous affidavit states. Vanessa Guillen is seen in April 2021, a year after she was slain and her body found buried here along FM 436 near Belton, Texas. Vanessa Guillen told her family she was being sexually harassed. Robinson was one of the last people to see Guilln alive at Fort Hood and he had been interviewed by investigators when Guilln's initial disappearance was reported but was ruled out as a suspect. [34] The mural portrays her with the flags of both the United States and Mexico, the latter due to her Mexican American ethnicity. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services. Guillen, who joined the Army in 2018, was posthumously promoted to specialist a couple of months later. I am Vanessa Guillen also follows the incredible efforts of her sisters Lupe and Mayra and lawyer Natalie Khawam to seek justice for Guilln and sexual assault victims in the military in the wake of Guilln's death. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. December 9, 2020 / 9:47 AM Robinson had been accused of sexual harassment in the past but unrelated to Guilln. During Wednesdays news conference, Guillens sister Mayra said she had met the soldier suspected in the disappearance of her sister. Ultimately, Aguilar sought to have her confession thrown out, arguing she did not see a judge in a timely fashion when first charged, ABC13 News in Houston reported in May. According to investigators, Aguilar confessed her involvement in the killing to a fellow inmate at the Bell County Jail. Fort Hood murder: Cecily Aguilar, left, and the late Army Spc. Mayra Guillen, second from left, listens as sister Lupe Guillen speaks on Capitol Hill about the April 22, 2020, murder of their sister, Army Spc. The latest report adds to a narrative that began April 22 when Vanessa Guillen vanished from Fort Hood. Vanessa Guillen was murdered at Fort Hood on April 22, 2020, by Arron David Robinson. Vanessas bones, hair, and other remains were found at the end of June, according to The Times. Images released Thursday, June 18, 2020, by officials at Fort Hood show soldiers searching for Army Spc. *Trigger warning*: physical violence and sexual assault. The remains were found in a shallow grave, and search operations were suspended, pending identification, said Tim Miller, the director and founder of Texas EquuSearch. ", Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. That hope was dashed June 30 when a man repairing a nearby fence came upon one of the holes in which Guillen had been buried. How Did Vanessa Guillen Die: Does Aaron Robinson Killed Her? Guillen's remains were found more than two months later, burned, dismembered and encased in concrete. Robinson was one of the last people known to have seen Pfc. Robinson was also the last person Vanessa texted before her April 22 disappearance. The report from Gen. John Mike Murray, the head of Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas, comes almost five months after the bombshell Fort Hood report released by the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee in December. 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The movie showcases her life and her family's fight for (NCD). Discovery Company. Is I Am Vanessa Guillen a true story? But whoever is responsible has to pay, and we demand a congressional investigation, she added. WebGuillens autopsy showed she had multiple blunt force injuries to the skull, in addition to burn damage. By July 2021, Aguiler has been charged with 11 counts: one count of conspiracy to tamper with documents or proceedings; two counts of tampering with documents or proceedings; three counts of accessory after the fact; one count of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation; and four counts of false statement or representation. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. "I don't want to hear another woman or man was found dead at Fort Hood. Then they buried the bones and put cement over the bones so they could not be found.. "[45] Among those disciplined by McCarthy were Major General Scott L. Efflandt, Colonel Ralph Overland and Command Sergeant Major Bradley Knapp. 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. [2], Aguilar was arrested by Texas Rangers and held at the Bell County Jail. I am Vanessa Guillen also follows the incredible efforts of her sisters Lupe and Mayra and lawyer Natalie Khawam to seek justice for Guilln and sexual assault victims in the military in the wake of Guilln's death. [13] Guilln's mother advised her to report the matter, but she responded that "she could put a stop to it herself"[16] out of fear that her mother would be harmed for making a report. Robinson and Guillen, though co-workers, were located in different buildings; he was not in her line of command, Phelps said. Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. There is no credibility to Cecily Aguilars words, and its a shame that theres an opportunity for this criminal to defend herself after what she did to my sisters body, Guillen told the news station. Robinson killed the girl, she allegedly told Dendy. Guilln had been missing for over two months when some of her dismembered remains were found buried along the Leon River on June 30. We feel pain, frustration and devastation. Senior members of CID Command met with Guillens family on Wednesday, Phelps said. Guillen gets emotional: How could this happen? Crystal Bonvillian, Cox Media Group National Content Desk, Vanessa Guillen Murder: What you need to know. Pfc. Vanessa Guillen", "Foul play suspected in Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen's disappearance", "Vanessa Guillen search: Lawmaker suspects foul play in the disappearance of Texas soldier", "Fort Hood says they have found no connection with sexual harassment and Guillen's disappearance", "Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia hosts virtual update on Vanessa Guilln case", "She 'never made it out of the Army alive': Affidavit details killing of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen", "Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guilln identified by Army, family says", "Vanessa Guillen killed with hammer and her body mutilated, affidavit says", "New court documents in Vanessa Guillen's case reveal possible motive for murder", "Public's Help Sought in Locating Fort Hood Soldier", "Army Senior Leaders Update Reporters on U.S. Army Response to COVID-19", https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/politics/vanessa-guillen-family-donald-trump/index.htmlM, "Army punishes 14 senior officers after murder and other deaths at Fort Hood", "Texas woman pleads guilty to role in Vanessa Guillen's death", "Houston artists pay tribute to Vanessa Guillen", "New mural pays tribute to Vanessa Guillen in her neighborhood", "Mayor Turner honors Vanessa Guillen with visit to mural", "Fort Hood unveils gate and plaque honoring Vanessa Guilln", "Fort Hood names gate after slain Spc. She told her family that she was being sexually harassed by a superior before her disappearance in April of 2020, per the documentary. The sergeant wasnt identified. Robinson told investigators the contact involved the serial numbers for the equipment Guillen was working on. She decided to enlist in the Army at age 18, according to The New York Times. "It took so long to get an adjudication that people never saw an adjudication.". Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. By "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. To do any less breaks trust with our people and the American public.. Instead, Murrays report says Guilln was harassed by a superior noncommissioned officer in her unit. Guilln informally reported that she was sexually harassed on two occasions, and in both instances her supervisor failed to report the harassment, and other leaders failed to take appropriate action, a press release on Friday said. 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