Murder of Vanessa Guillen
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Murder of Vanessa Guillen
Expert Guillen was reported missing at Fort Hood in April 2020 and her remains were found on June 30, 2020. Her case has inspired protests and made the military celebrate law more than a dozen officials.
Temporary memorial to US Army professional Vanessa Guillen at the Power House Arena in Houston in August 2020. Credit... Mark Felix/Agence France-Presse - Getty Images
Spotted 2020 about the dismembered and burned remains of Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who went missing on April 22, 2020, sparked outrage from central Texas to Washington.
Expert Guillen's case has attracted the attention of celebrities, lawmakers and other public figures, including former President Trump, who met his family at the White House. The incident also caused particular outrage from women in the military and Latinos.
Interest in the case was recently sparked by the Netflix documentary 'I Am Vanessa Guillen', released November 17, which examines her life and death as well as follows the journey. her family's justice. A woman who is the only person charged in the 2020 murder pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four counts, including accessory murder after the incident.
Expert Guillen's family alleges that she was sexually harassed prior to her murder.
Activists have called for systematic changes to the way the military handles reports of sexual harassment and assault. In December 2020, the Army found "major flaws" in Fort Hood's culture and disciplined more than a dozen officials.
Here's what we know about the incident.
Professional
Guillen was born and raised in Houston with five siblings. His mother, Gloria Guillen, said she was interested in the military from an early age, when she played with her brother's toy gun. Despite her mother's reluctance, she decided to enlist in the army at the age of 18.
As an athlete, she lifts weights, plays soccer and runs track and field and cross country teams.
Expert Guillen's mother said she enjoyed going to church with her daughter. A memorial at her home is surrounded by angels and figures of the Virgin Mary, to which Expert Guillen wore a gold necklace that she never took off.
Prosecutors released charges in the case on July 2, 2020, detailing the allegation that Expert Guillen was killed by another soldier, who then attempted to dispose of the body. hers.
In a federal complaint, the accused soldier was identified as 20-year-old US military expert Aaron Robinson. Days before the announcement of charges, expert Robinson committed suicide with a pistol.
Authorities also arrested his girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, of Killeen, Texas. Justice Department officials said in court documents that Expert Robinson told Ms Aguilar that he repeatedly struck Expert Guillen in the head with a hammer, killing her and hiding her body in a big box. The couple then attempted to dismember the body and burn the rest, according to the complaint.
Ms. Aguilar pleaded guilty on November 29 to one count of aiding murder after the incident and three counts of making a false statement or misrepresentation. Prosecutors said she faced a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, three years of probation and a $1 million fine.
Specialist Guillen was last seen around noon on April 22, 2020, in the parking lot of her squadron headquarters at Fort Hood. Investigators searched her phone and found the last person she texted was Expert Robinson.
Specialist Robinson works in a Fort Hood building adjacent to where Expert Guillen works, according to Special Agent Damon Phelps of the Criminal Investigative Command.
A witness told investigators that Specialist Guillen left the weapons room where she worked and went to the weapons room controlled by Specialist Robinson to confirm the serial numbers of the weapons and equipment, according to the report. Complaint letter.
Specialist Robinson later said he read him the serial numbers and gave him the documents, according to court documents. He said he trusted her and left to go to the parking lot.
Two witnesses later testified that the same day they saw Specialist Robinson come out of the weapons room, dragging a large "hard box" with wheels that "appeared to be very heavy," according to the complaint.
Expert Guillen was reported missing on April 23, 2020. On April 24, the US Army Criminal Investigation Command issued a press release asking for public assistance in finding look for her. Thousands of soldiers searched Fort Hood's buildings, barracks, fields, training areas, lakes, and trails.
On June 30, 2020, human remains were found near the Leon River in Bell County, Texas. On July 3, the military confirmed that the remains belonged to Expert Guillen. The remains of the missing Fort Hood soldier may have been found and a suspect in her disappearance committed suicide.
'As you know, there have been many updates since our last conversation. We believe his remains have been found. We believe the suspect committed suicide in the morning, and unfortunately that doesn't give us much information about how it happened, why it happened. And we believe that the person who killed her was the one who sexually harassed her, who entered the bathroom. So, you know, this, again, shouldn't be happening. And now she is no longer with us. 'Just say the hashtag, #IamVanessaGuillen. All the men and women in our service are sexually harassed, sexually assaulted - because they report it - but they take it as a joke. My sister is no joke. My sister is a human being. And I want justice, and I want answers.
Natalie Khawam, an attorney for the family of expert Vanessa Guillen, said in early July that her remains had most likely been found and that the suspect in her disappearance had committed suicide.
When Expert Guillen disappeared, Aguilar, then 22 years old, was living with Specialist Robinson, according to the complaint. She pleaded guilty in November and faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, three years of probation and a $1 million fine.
'According to court documents, from April 22, 2020 to July 1, 2020, Aguilar assisted Army Specialist Aaron Robinson in forging, destroying, mutilating, and concealing evidence of corruption. corruption - ie Vanessa Guillen's body - to prevent Robinson from being charged and prosecuted for any crime,' a statement from the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said.
Prosecutors said in court papers that she initially lied to investigators about what she knew, but on June 30 she confessed to playing a role in the disposal of Expert Guillen's body.
Ms. Aguilar told investigators that Specialist Robinson picked her up late April 22 or early April 23 at the gas station where she worked.
Ms. Aguilar said she helped Expert Robinson dismember the body with an ax or ax and a machete, according to the complaint. He said the couple buried the remains near the Leon River.
Military leaders declined to discuss possible motives for the killing.
For months, activists, politicians, and Expert Guillen's family have been calling for an investigation into Fort Hood, the nation's third-largest military base. On July 10, 2020, Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, ordered an investigation into Fort Hood's command culture following a year of violent deaths, suicides, and sexual harassment complaints. training at military bases. As a result of the investigative report, released on December 8, 2020, 14 Army officials at Fort Hood have been fired or suspended, including a number of senior leaders. McCarthy said the investigation found "major flaws" at Fort Hood and the command environment "permitted sexual harassment and sexual assault". According to an Army report released on April 30, 2021, Army investigators arrested Specialist Robinson in the murder of Specialist Guillen just hours after his remains were discovered. However, a series of mistakes led him to flee and then shoot himself, according to an Army report released on April 30, 2021. Among the report's findings: Expert Guillen was sexually harassed, but not by Specialist Robinson, and he has also been charged with unrelated sexual harassment. The report revealed that a communication breakdown between his unit and judicial police officers allowed him to escape.
In August of this year, Natalie Khawam, an attorney for the Guillen family, filed a $35 million lawsuit against the US military for sexual assault and the unjust death of Guillen Expert, Ms. speak.
April Rubin, Michael Levenson, Bryan Pietsch and Christopher Mele contributed reporting.
Johnny Diaz is a permanent reporter specializing in breaking news. He previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Boston Globe. Learn more about Johnny Diaz
Temporary memorial to US Army professional Vanessa Guillen at the Power House Arena in Houston in August 2020. Credit... Mark Felix/Agence France-Presse - Getty Images
Spotted 2020 about the dismembered and burned remains of Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who went missing on April 22, 2020, sparked outrage from central Texas to Washington.
Expert Guillen's case has attracted the attention of celebrities, lawmakers and other public figures, including former President Trump, who met his family at the White House. The incident also caused particular outrage from women in the military and Latinos.
Interest in the case was recently sparked by the Netflix documentary 'I Am Vanessa Guillen', released November 17, which examines her life and death as well as follows the journey. her family's justice. A woman who is the only person charged in the 2020 murder pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four counts, including accessory murder after the incident.
Expert Guillen's family alleges that she was sexually harassed prior to her murder.
Activists have called for systematic changes to the way the military handles reports of sexual harassment and assault. In December 2020, the Army found "major flaws" in Fort Hood's culture and disciplined more than a dozen officials.
Here's what we know about the incident.
Professional
Guillen was born and raised in Houston with five siblings. His mother, Gloria Guillen, said she was interested in the military from an early age, when she played with her brother's toy gun. Despite her mother's reluctance, she decided to enlist in the army at the age of 18.
As an athlete, she lifts weights, plays soccer and runs track and field and cross country teams.
Expert Guillen's mother said she enjoyed going to church with her daughter. A memorial at her home is surrounded by angels and figures of the Virgin Mary, to which Expert Guillen wore a gold necklace that she never took off.
Prosecutors released charges in the case on July 2, 2020, detailing the allegation that Expert Guillen was killed by another soldier, who then attempted to dispose of the body. hers.
In a federal complaint, the accused soldier was identified as 20-year-old US military expert Aaron Robinson. Days before the announcement of charges, expert Robinson committed suicide with a pistol.
Authorities also arrested his girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, of Killeen, Texas. Justice Department officials said in court documents that Expert Robinson told Ms Aguilar that he repeatedly struck Expert Guillen in the head with a hammer, killing her and hiding her body in a big box. The couple then attempted to dismember the body and burn the rest, according to the complaint.
Ms. Aguilar pleaded guilty on November 29 to one count of aiding murder after the incident and three counts of making a false statement or misrepresentation. Prosecutors said she faced a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, three years of probation and a $1 million fine.
Specialist Guillen was last seen around noon on April 22, 2020, in the parking lot of her squadron headquarters at Fort Hood. Investigators searched her phone and found the last person she texted was Expert Robinson.
Specialist Robinson works in a Fort Hood building adjacent to where Expert Guillen works, according to Special Agent Damon Phelps of the Criminal Investigative Command.
A witness told investigators that Specialist Guillen left the weapons room where she worked and went to the weapons room controlled by Specialist Robinson to confirm the serial numbers of the weapons and equipment, according to the report. Complaint letter.
Specialist Robinson later said he read him the serial numbers and gave him the documents, according to court documents. He said he trusted her and left to go to the parking lot.
Two witnesses later testified that the same day they saw Specialist Robinson come out of the weapons room, dragging a large "hard box" with wheels that "appeared to be very heavy," according to the complaint.
Expert Guillen was reported missing on April 23, 2020. On April 24, the US Army Criminal Investigation Command issued a press release asking for public assistance in finding look for her. Thousands of soldiers searched Fort Hood's buildings, barracks, fields, training areas, lakes, and trails.
On June 30, 2020, human remains were found near the Leon River in Bell County, Texas. On July 3, the military confirmed that the remains belonged to Expert Guillen. The remains of the missing Fort Hood soldier may have been found and a suspect in her disappearance committed suicide.
'As you know, there have been many updates since our last conversation. We believe his remains have been found. We believe the suspect committed suicide in the morning, and unfortunately that doesn't give us much information about how it happened, why it happened. And we believe that the person who killed her was the one who sexually harassed her, who entered the bathroom. So, you know, this, again, shouldn't be happening. And now she is no longer with us. 'Just say the hashtag, #IamVanessaGuillen. All the men and women in our service are sexually harassed, sexually assaulted - because they report it - but they take it as a joke. My sister is no joke. My sister is a human being. And I want justice, and I want answers.
Natalie Khawam, an attorney for the family of expert Vanessa Guillen, said in early July that her remains had most likely been found and that the suspect in her disappearance had committed suicide.
When Expert Guillen disappeared, Aguilar, then 22 years old, was living with Specialist Robinson, according to the complaint. She pleaded guilty in November and faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, three years of probation and a $1 million fine.
'According to court documents, from April 22, 2020 to July 1, 2020, Aguilar assisted Army Specialist Aaron Robinson in forging, destroying, mutilating, and concealing evidence of corruption. corruption - ie Vanessa Guillen's body - to prevent Robinson from being charged and prosecuted for any crime,' a statement from the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said.
Prosecutors said in court papers that she initially lied to investigators about what she knew, but on June 30 she confessed to playing a role in the disposal of Expert Guillen's body.
Ms. Aguilar told investigators that Specialist Robinson picked her up late April 22 or early April 23 at the gas station where she worked.
Ms. Aguilar said she helped Expert Robinson dismember the body with an ax or ax and a machete, according to the complaint. He said the couple buried the remains near the Leon River.
Military leaders declined to discuss possible motives for the killing.
For months, activists, politicians, and Expert Guillen's family have been calling for an investigation into Fort Hood, the nation's third-largest military base. On July 10, 2020, Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, ordered an investigation into Fort Hood's command culture following a year of violent deaths, suicides, and sexual harassment complaints. training at military bases. As a result of the investigative report, released on December 8, 2020, 14 Army officials at Fort Hood have been fired or suspended, including a number of senior leaders. McCarthy said the investigation found "major flaws" at Fort Hood and the command environment "permitted sexual harassment and sexual assault". According to an Army report released on April 30, 2021, Army investigators arrested Specialist Robinson in the murder of Specialist Guillen just hours after his remains were discovered. However, a series of mistakes led him to flee and then shoot himself, according to an Army report released on April 30, 2021. Among the report's findings: Expert Guillen was sexually harassed, but not by Specialist Robinson, and he has also been charged with unrelated sexual harassment. The report revealed that a communication breakdown between his unit and judicial police officers allowed him to escape.
In August of this year, Natalie Khawam, an attorney for the Guillen family, filed a $35 million lawsuit against the US military for sexual assault and the unjust death of Guillen Expert, Ms. speak.
April Rubin, Michael Levenson, Bryan Pietsch and Christopher Mele contributed reporting.
Johnny Diaz is a permanent reporter specializing in breaking news. He previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Boston Globe. Learn more about Johnny Diaz