2020 ElectionPoliticsArmyFort HoodRyan McCarthysexual assaultsexual harassment. Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing from the Texas post since April. Meanwhile, Natalie Khawam, an attorney for the Guillen family claimed to the Army Times in a report published Thursday that Guillen was killed by Robinson while she was on duty in the armory room at Fort Hood. 'Dead suspect loophole' in Texas law restricting video release of She taught me many things because she was always tender, she was loving to me and we always loved each other. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death by fellow soldier, attorney Guillen never returned and the witness recalled locking up the armory for the day with her ID card, bank card, car keys and barracks key still left inside. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Aguilar has been charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. "I was astonished that they had so much information and details. We were always fighting, but thats sisterhood. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. "I asked, 'Have you seen Guillen?' The Calumet City native entered the Army in October 2017 and was a combat engineer. We are going to love each other all our lives. Then they dismembered this beautiful US soldiers body with a machete, Khawan claimed, adding that She needs to be brought to justice., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Fort Hood soldier died by suicide after being sexually harassed, family says, Female soldier, 21, found dead at Fort Hood -- 3 years after Vanessa Guillen's brutal slaying, The Army is scrapping Fort Hood name here's who it will be renamed for, Family of slain Texas soldier seeking $35 million in damages, missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen. The motive for the alleged murder was not described in the complaint. "I didn't wanna think the worst, but [I was experiencing] a lotta panic.". Suspect in Fort Hood soldier case kills self, 2nd suspect jailed after She never deployed overseas but was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (posthumously), the National Defense Service Ribbonand the Army Service Ribbon. Aguilar was charged in federal court with conspiracy to tamper with evidence. "They said the whole room was painted in red, Khawam said. Contractors discovered the remains near the Leon River on June 30, 2020, authorities said. HELP US FIND VANESSA GUILLENhttps://t.co/hbCWZzZ8RS, We are doing everything in our power to get her back and will not stop until we do. Khawam said she was told a third suspect was detained. Did my girl have to die? In the calls, Robinson didn't deny anything. I want an investigation into what happened.. He joined the Army in October 2017, training as a 12B, Combat Engineer. Morales, a 24-year-old who also used the last name Wedel before his marriage, was last heard from on Aug. 20, 2019. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings by the United States attorney's office, Western District of Texas, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time, said Christopher Grey, spokesman for the Armys Criminal Investigation Command. She remains in custody in the Bell County Jail awaiting charges by civilian authorities. The Army's Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command.Maj. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Mayra Guillen said last week that much of what the family learned about her younger sisters disappearance was through media reports and news conferences. Vanessa Guillen was killed April 22, the day of her disappearance, by Spc. A criminal complaint filed against Aguilar accuses her of tampering with evidence, including Guillens body, on April 23 and 26 to impair its integrity and availability for use in an official proceeding., Though the family believes Robinson killed Guillenand the allegations that Aguilar helped bury her remains, Khawam said, the story of how Robinson killed Guillen, moved her body and cleaned up the crime scene all while on a military post without an accomplice or being found out sooner does not make sense.. "She had suspected it was gonna be a half-day. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. "However, all sexual harassment allegations are being investigated, as they are in every other instance.". Authorities have said that Spc. Born and raised in Houston to immigrants from Mexico, Guillen was one of six children. The family has maintained that Guillen was sexually harassed by superiors at Fort Hood. They then placed the remains back in the three holes with the concrete, the complaint alleged. "We got harassed. Guillen, 20, was stationed at Fort Hood when she went missing on April 22. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution The inspections goal is to examine how the program runs and whether leadership is supportive of soldiers reporting sexual harassment and assault, officials said in a statement Wednesday. If convicted, Aguilar faces up to 20 years in federal prison. It is unclear whether the person who harassed Guillen will be prosecuted at this time. Killeen Police have body camera video and dashcam video from the incident but none of it has been released. KILLEEN, Texas (CBS) -- A Calumet City soldier was the main suspect in the murder of fellow soldier Vanessa Guillen, CBS 2 has learned. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide Wednesday morning as investigators were closing in. The Calumet City native entered the Army in October 2017 and was a combat engineer. The Armymaintained that it found no substantial evidence that Robinson was sexually harassing Guillen. When they spoke to Aguilar, investigators said she claimed he was calling that night because she couldn't find her phone. When Gloria Guillen spoke publicly to the media about her daughter's sexual harassment, the case exploded onto the national news scene. Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, III Corps deputy commanding general, announced during the press conference that the Inspector General's Office will examine the implementation of Fort Hood's sexual harassment and prevention program, assess whether the "command climate" is supportive of soldiers reporting sexual assault or harassment and "identify any potential systemic issues. Investigators spoke to Robinson again and he let them search his phone. At 10:23 a.m., Guillen sent a text message confirming the serial number of a machine gun. The Armys account of how Guillen died remains riddled with holes that investigators refuse to clarify, said the familys attorney Natalie Khawam. "I called [Robinson], and he was acting like he just woke up," Hightower said. Follow Breitbart Newss Kristina Wong on Twitteror on Facebook. Investigators spoke to over 300 soldiers in Vanessa Guillen's unit, including Hightower. Aaron David Robinson, beat Guillen to death with a hammer the morning of April 22. Then they dismembered this beautiful U.S. soldiers body with a machete. She was caring and respectful and always used to joke about everything. She questioned the Army's conclusion that Robinson did not harass Vanessa Guillen. Guillen, that's not to say on the morning of her murder that he wasn't in the in the act of assaulting or harassing her. Butdid my daughter have to die for all those girls to come out? "As close of friends as we were, she came to us about a lot of different stuff. ET on ABC. rights reserved. ", WATCH: Vanessa Guillen: Remember Her Name. Now, the Guillen family is planning for a funeral this month. Authorities said that 20-year old Aaron David Robinson of Calumet City pulled a gun and shot himself as police were trying to make contact with him on Wednesday. They Refused to Fight for Russia. Fort Hood is the largest active duty armoured unit post in the U.S. military, according to the posts website. They reported her missing to her superiors that night, Guillen said, though investigatorssaid the Army told the family. Investigators and volunteers had searched along the Leon River without success. Army investigators believe Guillen, a Texas soldier missing since April, was killed by another soldier on the Texas base where they served, the attorney for the missing soldier's family said Thursday. She was reported missing in April but her remains were not found until July. The #IAmVanessaGuillen hashtag made its way to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Netflix's I Am Vanessa Guillen: Who is Aaron David Robinson? She is currently in custody awaiting her first court appearance. Unidentifed remains believed by family members to be those of Guillen were recovered this week along the Leon River and are undergoing forensic testing. The criminal case against Aguilar is ongoing. You know how frustrating it was for me to not be there? An Army investigation into her disappearance has led to the recent discovery of human remains in Belton, Texas, but officials say that they have not yet been positively identified. Aaron David Robinson, a 20-year-old Army Specialist, was identified as the person of interest in the case of Vanessa Guilln, also a 20-year-old Fort Hood soldier who disappeared in April. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq. "I got a call from CID on June 30th," Mayra Guillen said. Robinson then placed the deceased soldier in a box and brought her to the Leon River, according to the complaint. "Can you try to investigate even further as to why this was committed? The Austin American-Statesman and USA TODAY attempted over a two-week period to speak with investigators from the Army, the FBI and Killeen police to verify Khawam and the Guillen familys accounts of what took placebut did not receive a response or were told no comment.. We tried to tell them that it was this person, and he was just walking around like nothing happened. Guillen was last seen at a parking lot in Fort Hood, where she was stationed, on April 22. Robinsons fatal shooting took place in the 4700 block of East Rancier Avenue in Juan Cruz and Vanessa Guillen's family are still looking for answers as to why the late Army specialist was killed in 2020 and how her murderer escaped justice. Army officials also stressed repeatedly at the news conference that there is "no credible information" that Guillen was the victim of sexual harassment or assault. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Guillen received a posthumous promotion from Private First Class to Specialist. Gregory Morales, right outside the post in Killeen last month. After the sexual harassment reports surfaced, many service members have used the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen to share their experiences with sexual assault and harassment on social media. ", Maj. Gen. Gene LeBoeuf, Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command, however, insisted that "Specialist Robinson was a person of interest early on in the investigation. Robinson called Aguilar several times throughout the night and the calls after midnight were for lengths greater than one minute., Aguilar later said in a second interview that she did leave her home and took a drive to a park in Belton, Texas to look at the stars.. Khawam said Guillen reported her harassment to her family and fellow soldiers at the base. The Army said Wednesday they promoted Private First Class Guillen, 20, to specialist due to her time in service. They filled out affidavits that said they had seen Vanessa at a different time from when she had actually departed the other arms room [controlled by Robinson], Secretary of the U.S. Army Ryan McCarthy has reportedlysaid. They just kept trying to pin it on me or Landy," Hightower said. The Guillens said that instead of mourning their loss with family and friends, they plan to grieve in front of cameras and film crews until they believe justice has been served. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. And there was none," Martin said. The soldier worked in an adjacent building from where Specialist Guillen worked, said Army Criminal Investigation Command Special Agent Damon Phelps. WebAaron David Robinson, 20, is a victim of a massive sex trafficking scandal in Killeen, Texas, beyond the borders. He said he then went to spend the night with his girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, off the base. Fort Hood officials said that the human remains discovered recently have not been identified. Spc. She is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Waco early next week. Khawam said the family told her that Guillen had planned to file a harassment complaint against Robinson the day after she was killed, and This statement, however, is inconsistent with the lengths of the calls, the complaint reads. Robinson who fled his post Tuesday, fatally shot himself early Wednesday when police in Killeen saw him walking on the road and attempted to make However subsequent interviews have failed to [confirm] this allegation," Phelps said. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide when authorities made contact with him, according to the Army. Fort Hood soldier slain, dismembered on post, family attorney says He said 11 have been removed from their positions permanently, and all 21 have "black marks" on their records "that will stay with them." "Nevertheless, we are still investigating.". I am not nervous to talk with him because this needs to stop, she said. KILLEEN, TEXASU.S. At the time, there was not a missing soldier protocol in place. Robinson harassed her.". Trump said he would help her family with funeral expenses and directed the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate what happened to Guillen. A spokesperson for McCarthy confirmed to Breitbart News that he had not contacted the family: Yes thats correct. Please enter valid email address to continue. But, prior to that, there's no evidence whatsoever that Spc. "He said he didn't talk to her while he was in there. She has pleaded not guilty to charges. Why? Earlier Thursday, Phelps said that Robinson died by suicide early Wednesday after fleeing Fort Hood the night before. She added that McCarthy has scheduled a press conference for Thursday with media at Fort Hood, Texas, but has not even contacted the Guilln family to let them know it was happening. Guillen, 20, were found near the Leon River in Bell County in late June, Civilian searcher says Army overlooked evidence after Vanessa Guillen's death. The remains have been sent to a forensic anthropologist for analysis, though no official confirmation on the identity of the remains has been completed. The family deserves these answers.". Law enforcement officials attempted to make contact with Robinson, 20, on Tuesday in Killeen, Texas, but he displayed a weapon and took his own life, Phelps said during the news conference. It said it was gonna rain.". Officials also said Thursday that there is a second suspect in connection to the case and that suspect is the estranged wife of a former Fort Hood soldier who is currently in custody at Bell county Jail awaiting charges by civil authorities.. HOUSTON -- Vanessa Guillen will forever be 20 years old, engaged but will never be married. Authorities on Thursday said 20-year-old Spc. Landy said that because Robinson was the last person to be seen with her, a superior asked Robinson "in front of everybody" about their last interaction. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Allie Yang, Denise Martinez-Ramundo, Natalie Cardenas, and Chris Kilmer. And it's like we could have did something, but we didn't know.". ", He added that the Army cannot release his name "for the matter of privacy" and is "part of the investigation and the process.". They said Robinson killed himself as officers moved in to arrest him late Tuesday night. Aaron Robinson Robinson's estranged wife has been arrested for her alleged involvement in the case. Those efforts gained national and even some international attention in the past months. Its impossible.. "She told me, 'I love you. At around 10 p.m., he was heard talking on the phone, apparently to his mother, saying "don't believe what you hear about me." Bell County Jail records online show Aguilar was charged Wednesday with tampering or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse, a second degree felony. Damon Phelps of the CID, the Army's primary criminal investigative organization, told reporters that Aguilar is the estranged wife of a former Fort Hood soldier. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. Goodnight,'" he said. About two hours later, In the middle of a street, authorities converged on Robinson, who pulled out a gun and shot himself dead. Meanwhile, Cruz and Vanessa's sisters were desperately trying to spread word of her disappearance on their own. However, Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt and Phelps on Thursday said there is still no evidence linking sexual harassment to Guillens disappearance. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. Memorial honors slain Fort Hood soldier as family seeks She told investigators that she and Robinson were together the entire night on April 22. Related: Army Investigating Fort Hood Sexual Assault Program After Soldier's Disappearance, Military COVID-19 Cases Spike 41% in June, With Upticks in Hotspot States, Army Investigating Fort Hood Sexual Assault Program After Soldier's Disappearance. A guard gave chase but Robinson was able to get into a car and leave the base. She has pleaded not guilty to charges including tampering and being an accessory after the fact. WATCH LIVE: Retrial for Florida man Eric Robinson accused of brutal love triangle murder, Law&Crime Looks Ahead to 10 Remarkable Criminal Trials Scheduled for the First Half of 2023, 9 Shocking Times Defendants Testified at Trial, 10 Most Memorable Law&Crime Network Trials, Completely sickening: Woman already charged with killing infant accused of causing severe injuries to 2nd baby, Man faces over a dozen charges after allegedly threatening to kill a police sergeant and pulling a knife on arresting officers after several recent run-ins with law enforcement, Educators forced 7-year-old boy to eat his own vomit: Police, Phony doctor treated thousands including cancer patients without medical license: DA, Man sentenced in grisly killing of missing model who was strangled, injected with pool cleaner, and encased in concrete, DNA links missing moms cold case to active murder investigation, Woman indicted for selling this man human body parts she stole from mortuary: Authorities, Manhunt underway for gunman accused of killing 5, including 8-year-old boy, in execution-style shooting with AR-style rifle after neighbors complained about gunfire: Sheriff, Man known as 'Compassion Guy,' praised for selflessness, stabbed in violent and senseless attack at California park, Murder case 'refused' against couple who allegedly smothered newborn and threw her away in trash bag, Preschool teacher reportedly arrested for murder during the childrens naptime, Man busted after $3M worth of drugs mysteriously showed up to restaurant, The Week Ahead: Psychic sentencing, stepson killer, and doomsday cult, Murder case refused against couple who allegedly smothered newborn and threw her away in trash bag. ", "We were in my car at the time," Landy said, "and we went to the track that she usually would be at, just in case she didn't really wanna talk to anybody and wanted to get stuff off her mind. She would be like, 'Let me carry you so I can do squats,'" said Cruz. However, he declined to release the womans name. Local law enforcement later found Robinson on East Rancier Avenue, east of Fort Hood near North Twin Creek Drive, where he pulled a gun and shot himself when confronted by Killeen police early Wednesday. That's [what] we want to have that answered as well. Nearly 40,000 infantrymen, cavalrymen, tankers, engineers, mechanics and health care professionals work at Fort Hood, which is nicknamed Great Place.. It's a nightmare," Cruz said. ", Hightower told Landy that Vanessa was missing. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide Wednesday morning as investigators were closing in. "Nothing really can bring her back at all but as long as we know how to honor her name and how to make this change, I feel like that would be some closure for us," Mayra Guillen said. The pile went 3 feet into the ground and the dirt was fresh, but investigators did not find any human remains, said Tim Miller, who helped lead the search with his organization EquuSearch. In an interview with KXXV, a local television station in Killeen, Cruz said, "She was just gone, so she just disappeared. "We were interviewing other people in the unit as well to find out, was there a relationship between Vanessa and Spc. Because she is a civilian in the custody of local authorities, Army CID will not be releasing any further information concerning her or her status at this time, Phelps said, adding that no organization had yet been assigned to the womans case nor was anyone given the authority to release her name. "The criminal investigation has not found any connection between sexual harassment and Vanessa's disappearance," Maj. Scott Efflandt, deputy commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood, said. According to investigators, he even texted her links to news articles about the remains discovered near the Leon River. Vanessa Guillen, 20, also say that authorities failed to properly address her claims of facing sexual abuse. "It was so many rumors, we didn't know what to believe," Hightower said. "This gruesome murder should never have happened.". Aaron David Robinson was a 20-year-old soldier from Calumet City, Illinois. Army authorities have said a a superior noncommissioned officer in [Guillens] unit harassed her and theres no evidence she was sexually assaulted. "I knew something was wrong because I'd check her social media," Cruz said. Later that night, Army investigators questioned Aguilar, they say she admitted that Robinson had told her he killed Vanessa Guillen and that she saw her remains in the tough box that he had carted out of the arms room, where he told her he killed Guillen. Martin said she went to the arms room, where she left her bank card, her ID card and the keys to her barracks room and car. "It's so important because it will bring the help my sister never obtained, it will bring the voice my sister never had.". Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Civilian charged in plot to dismember and hide remains of Fort Hood Vanessa's mother Gloria Guillen said that her daughter had confided in her that she was being sexually harassed at Fort Hood but that she didn't report it due to fear of retribution and retaliation. I would truly wish to have her here than any of this, but this is where we are today.. Aaron David Robinson, of Calumet City, Ill., beat Guillen, with a hammer and that her body was later dismembered and burned. Justice will be done.. Cecily Aguilar, 22, helped Spc. On May 18, two witnesses said that on the day of Guillens disappearance, they observed Robinson pulling a large tough box,' with wheels, that appeared very heavy out of the armory where he worked.