Robinson's girlfriend Cecily Aguilar reportedly told police that he killed Guillen because he didn't want to get in trouble over his relationship with Aguilar, who was still married to another soldier. How to Start a T-Shirt Business With Minimum Investment 7 Steps. She has been charged with 11 counts, including tampering with evidence, being an accessory after the fact and making false statements to law enforcement. Vanessa Guilln's fellow soldier, Aaron David Robinson, was the main suspect in her death. [38][39], Guilln's family called for justice and improvement of the way claims of sexual harassment are handled by the military. Robinson killed himself the next day, and Aguilar has been the only person charged in Guillen's murder. Her burned and dismembered remains were found June 30, 2020, about 26 miles away near Belton, Texas, on the Leon River. .css-7qz8rz{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-7qz8rz:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Netflixs newest doc, I Am Vanessa Guillen, tells the story of a young woman serving in the Army who mysteriously disappeared from her base. [26][3] Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Frazier and Greg Gloff are prosecuting the case on behalf of the federal government. FBI special Agent Jonathan Varga wrote in a 2020 affidavit, Police: Man accused of stabbing ex-girlfriend to death at convenience store, Man accused of leading police on a chase in stolen tractor across Watauga County, North Carolina lab finds street drugs cut with chemical that leads to aggressive wounds, Bojangles teams with Appalachian Mountain Brewery to launch alcoholic sweet tea, Mexican prosecutor: Shanquella Robinson death investigation ongoing, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Carrie Ricci, an associate general counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture who also served on the panel, said interviews revealed that victims experienced "reluctance, and that feeling that we won't be believed.". August 13, 2022 by Josephine Danso. [5] Tim Miller, Director of Texas EquuSearch, stated that it was the most sophisticated burial site he had ever seen. (U.S. Army). 2. Aguilar faces federal charges in connection with the case. We demand the truth, attorney Natalie Khawam said in a statement. Robinson said he did not conduct any small talk with Guillen, whom he said he knew only through their job functions. Robinson, 20, fatally shot himself hours later as city and federal investigators closed in to make an arrest. "She got the idea to buy the concrete that way from watching the show CSI/Criminal Minds and believed she would not leave a 'paper trail'," according to officials. 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. [9] In early June, Guilln's mother told reporters she did not trust the Army's handling of the investigation and her attorney, Natalie Khawam,[17] said she believed the family was "being kept in the dark"[16] because few details had been released regarding the disappearance. Vanessa Guillen was murdered at Fort Hood on April 22, 2020, by Arron David Robinson. Aguilar also allegedly confessed to removing Guillen's body from the government-owned tote Robinson had put her in because "Robinson didn't want to.". Aguilar told police Robinson "would go into moods in which he would not be his normal self and have a 'tic. Aguilar pleaded not guilty on all counts, and her trial begins on Jan. 3, 2023, per KHOU11. The Guillen family have become advocates against violence on military bases since the homicide. After knowing the reason behind the horrible death of Vanessa and the fact that Vanessa herself told her mother that she was being harassed by her fellow superior, her family member was furious. Aaron Robinson, the man accused of killing her. I felt something was telling me that he did something, and I wasnt wrong apparently, Mayra Guillen said. Vanessa Guillen, 20, vanished April 22, 2020, from Fort Hood, where she was stationed and worked as a small arms and artillery repairer. *Trigger warning*: physical violence and sexual assault. appreciated. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. >> Related story: She never made it out of the Army alive, suspect in Vanessa Guillen murder states. Know Cause of Death As Autopsy Facts! On July 2, a charge was brought against another soldier at Fort Hood, Aaron [3] On July13, 2021, she was indicted on eleven counts by a federal grand jury. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. This September, she would have turned 23. last seen in the parking lot of her barracks. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Under the cover of darkness, Robinson took Aguilar to the Leon River, where he showed her Guillens body in a massive black tote bag. Officials arrested Aaron Robinson, an army specialist, and his girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, for the murder of Vanessa Guillen. 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. [9] Her car keys, identification card, bank card, and barracks key were found inside the armory where she worked. "Guillen saw Robinson's cell phone lock screen, which contained a picture of Aguilar," say documents cited by KCENTV. Under the new federal law, commanders cannot be involved in military sexual harassment or sexual assault investigations, the Tribune explains. Robinson had been accused of sexual harassment in the past but unrelated to Guilln. A "bludgeoning" is a situation in which someone is attacked with something that usually has a thick or loaded end and is used like a weapon, according to Merriam-Webster. We truly hope Vanessa receives justice. 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, to which he never denied anything in response. I am Vanessa Guillen is a movie about the life of Vanessa Guillen, a soldier who was killed in 2020. 2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales, who went missing last year while driving in Killeen. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. They unleashed their rage because of how the case was handled within the army. Her family initially noted that Vanessa seemed concerned soon after being stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, saying that things arent always as they seem. She started losing weight and, her mother noted that Vanessa informed her that she was being harassed by a superior.. A Warner Bros. So keep reading this article to know How Did Vanessa Guillen Die. The disturbing new details in the case come from a Texas Department of Public Safety report that was filed May 19 in federal court. The interview in which Aguilar describes Robinsons motive for the murder took place after Guillens remains were found on June 30, 2020. "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. Natalie also played a role in helping the family push for the 'I Am Vanessa Guillen Act,' parts of which went into effect in early 2022. He said it "forced us to take a critical look at our systems, our policies, and ourselves. She is in Bell County Jail awaiting civilian authorities to press charges, CID said. In the early hours of July 1, 2020, Killeen police located Robinson but, before they could arrest him, he shot himself dead. The exact motive behind Guilln's death is unlikely to ever be known, considering her suspected killer, Robinson, died by suicide before police could arrest him. When I first went up to that base, that subject, I met him, not knowing that he had something to do with it. At the time of her death, Vanessa was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He had been detained by his unit at the request of a CID agent under the pretense of violating COVID-19 quarantine rules. "It took so long to get an adjudication that people never saw an adjudication.". (NCD). So stay tuned to explore more. She then dismembered Guillen's body, burned her remains and covered them in concrete, Aguilar told police. Guillens sister, Mayra Guillen, told ABC13 in Houston last week that her family was enraged when reading Aguilars latest account of what took place the night her sister was slain. [18] On June13, 2020, hundreds of people assembled at the gates of Fort Hood to protest what organizers felt was a lack of information on the case. More than a dozen officials were disciplined in the wake of Vanessas disappearance, per the Times. Updated People from the. This documentary will cover who was behind the death of Vanessa Guillen and how her family relentlessly fought for justice. 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. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}How To Avoid Unexpected Health Bills, 'RHOSLC's Jen Shah's Legal Drama And Jail Time, These Pregnant Celebrities Have Due Dates In 2023, 'And Just Like That' Is Returning For Season 2, This Seamless Underwear Feels Like Going Commando, How Aquarius Season 2023 Impacts Your Zodiac Sign, Jennifer Garner Posts Throwback Swimsuit Video, Why 1883 Fans Are Asking Tim McGraw to Be Safe, See Katie Holmes Drop Jaws in Old Hollywood Dress, Kate Photographed for 1st Time Since Spare Release. The Army said Tuesday that those relieved of duty include Major General Scott L. Efflandt, Colonel Ralph Overland and Command Sergeant Major Bradley Knapp. 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. She claimed Robinson would go into moods in which he would not be his normal self Vanessa Guillen", "Proposed Vanessa Guilln law would transform military's sexual misconduct inquiries", "Army secretary pledges "full, independent review" in Vanessa Guillen case", "Trump meets with family of Vanessa Guillen and pledges to help", "Fort Hood: Soldiers fired and suspended after Vanessa Guillen probe", "14 Fort Hood leaders disciplined as probe finds 'permissive environment for sexual assault' at the Army base", "Secretary McCarthy holds Fort Hood Leaders Accountable, Announces New Investigations", "14 fired or suspended following Fort Hood investigation into Vanessa Guilln's death", "New general takes command of Fort Hood's 1st Cavalry Division after investigation clears former commander of wrongdoing", "Executive Order, 2022 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial", US Army crowdsources ideas to combat sexual assault crisis By SARAH BLAKE MORGAN February 26, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Vanessa_Guilln&oldid=1128824373, 21st-century history of the United States Army, Violence against women in the United States, Articles with dead external links from July 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Cover-up of Aguilar's adulterous relationship with Robinson, This page was last edited on 22 December 2022, at 04:56. Her murder also led to calls for change in how the military handles reports of sexual harassment and assault. She was also suspected of assisting Robinson in dismembering, burning and burying Guilln's body. Guillens phone records revealed the last outgoing text message from her phone was a message to Spc. Vanessa mysteriously disappeared on April 22, 2020, according to The New York Times. Vanessa, 20, who was Robinson was also the last person Vanessa texted before her April 22 disappearance. Her body was recovered outside the post on June 30. The report also gives graphic details of how Aguilar said she and Robinson used a machete, an axe, an Army entrenching tool and two knives to dismember Guillen and cut her flesh from the bones., Vanessa Guillen Army Spc. They buried her body near the Leon River, according to the Times. Vanessa Guillen was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked, an attorney for Guillens family said on Thursday. Specialist soldier Vanessa Guillen, 20, was killed and dismembered in 2020 6 Police say fellow soldier Aaron Robinson killed Guillen with a hammer after she saw a picture of a married woman on his phone 6 Guillen's remains were found months after their disappearance near the Leon River in Bell County, roughly 20 miles east of Fort Hood 6 Guilln died in 2020 after going missing from Fort Hood in Texas. WebVanessa Guillen is seen in April 2021, a year after she was slain and her body found buried here along FM 436 near Belton, Texas. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced the investigation in September, saying it would be a comprehensive look at the actions taken at every echelon of command in the wake of Guillns disappearance. Vanessa Guillen painted on a wall on the south side of Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, July 11, 2020. Army officials said on Friday that a total of 21 Army officers or noncommissioned officers have been implicated in the two reports on Fort Hood. Aguilar, who was dating Robinson despite being married to soldier Keon Aguilar, has been charged with helping Robinson dismember and dispose of Guillen's body. While authorities have not confirmed it, Guillens family believes the remains belong to their missing loved one, they said at a news conference. Before Guilln went missing, she had told her family that she was being sexually harassed by an unnamed sergeant at Fort Hood,[15] and that complaints by other female soldiers made against the sergeant had been dismissed. The suspect in her death, Specialist Aaron Robinson, killed himself on July 1 as police were attempting to take him into custody. Over the course of a year-and-a-half, CBS News spoke to nearly two dozen sexual assault survivors from all branches of the military who say their allegations were brushed aside and they were retaliated against for reporting their assaults. Vanessa Guilln disappeared from Fort Hood last April. "And it just compelled me to want to respond.". Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales death, and the Army is offering a $25,000 reward for information. Guillen's remains were found more than two months later, burned, dismembered and encased in concrete. Copyright 2022 Rationalinsurgent All Right Reserved. The long-awaited report was released Friday. Fort Hood murder: Cecily Aguilar, left, and the late Army Spc. Murrays report provides a slew of new details including that Vanessa Guilln was being harassed, but not by Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was based at Fort Hood with Robinson. Cecily Aguilar, left, and the late Army Spc. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He said investigators had conducted more than 300 interviews in the case. Vanessas sister also recalled calling the staff sergeant after her sister's disappearance, only to be told that they didnt know anything about Vanessa. The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Killeen Police Department said in a news release. 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