Ryan "Cj" Landy, a fellow soldier in her unit, told "20/20" that he and Guillen became friends "immediately" after she arrived. Robinsons fatal shooting took place in the 4700 block of East Rancier Avenue in Historically you couldnt sue the DOD if youre a victim of sexual harassment/assault due to the DODs broad misapplication of the Feres Doctrine, a 1950s Supreme Court decision that never included or addressed sexual assault, yet the DOD continued to use that case to evade accountability, Guillen family attorney Natalie Khawam told CNN. She remains in custody in the Bell County Jail awaiting charges by civilian authorities. Its impossible.. A petition started in 2021, a year after 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guilln was bludgeoned to death by soldier Aaron David Robinson, that calls for the Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has yet to personally call and offer condolences to the family of Spc. Then, he raced out of the room. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution We are going to love each other all our lives. 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. Hes going to tell her, Honey, I killed her for you because she was going to report us. Hes not going to say, Honey, I was sexually harassing Vanessa again and killed her. . They Refused to Fight for Russia. So, I feel like they should've came to that conclusion way earlier than they had. The suspect was identified as Specialist Aaron David Robinson, 20, of Illinois who joined the Army in October 2017 as a combat engineer, officials said at a press conference. ", Betavious "Tay" Hightower was another one of Guillen's "closest friends," he said. Vanessa Guilln, a 20-year-old soldier murdered in April at Fort Hood, the familys lawyer told Breitbart News on Wednesday. Aguilar helped authorities pinpoint his location so that he could be arrested. Pablo Saezsaid, according to CNN on Saturday. Investigators said Aguilar backed up his alibi. "There was a lot of silence after that one. She says she has only heard from President Trump.#JusticeForVanessaGuillen pic.twitter.com/rEr9XFA2mB. What did Aaron David Robinson do? Once Guillen was dead, Robinson then allegedly contacted his married girlfriend to help him bury her bloody body, Khawam said, according to the outlet. "This gruesome murder should never have happened.". 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. "The plan was to go hiking whenever she got off work," he said. You know how they say no one is perfect? Lupe asked. The slain soldiers family has criticized higher ups for the months-long pace of the investigation. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. Aaron David Robinson, who officials say killed himself July 1, was accused of beating Guillen to death with a hammer while they worked together in an armory room the Robinson was confined to his barracks around the time of the discovery, but he fled and died by suicide, authorities said. This led investigators to search away from the actual scene of the crime. Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing from the Texas post since April. The team also is charged with identifying any potentially systemic issues with the SHARP program at Fort Hood, as well as any resource constraints.. Before the event, Natalie Khawam, an attorney representing Guillen's family, announced that CID officials told her that Robinson had murdered her in the unit armory on the day of her disappearance. He didnt leave for the rest of the night, except to use a government computer to enroll in training, according to this account. 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. A Texas woman accused of helping mutilate and dispose of the body of a Fort Hood soldier who vanished this spring was charged Thursday, authorities said. But like I said, the night before, he had told us that he didn't say anything to her at all," Landy said. Looking at his phone records, investigators also found that Robinson had called Aguilar multiple times during the night after Vanessa Guillen went missing. This is the lawsuit. On May 18, nearly a month after Vanessa Guillen's disappearance, investigators spoke to two witnesses who said they saw Robinson exiting the arms room on April 22 with a large case called a tough box, which they say he loaded into his car before driving away. The "I Am Vanessa Guillen" bill, would explicitly list sexual harassment as a crime in military law, require the secretary of defense to establish a process for servicemembers to lodge a complaint confidentially and move the decision of whether to prosecute a sexual offense to an special prosecutor outside the chain of command. She's no longer here.' The League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization that has been helping the Guillen family, added an additional $25,000 to the reward the following day. They attempted to burn the body, before placing the remains in three separate holes. "That entrance leads to [the] 3rd Calvary Regiment," Lupe Guillen said. He was questioned within two days of the criminal investigationHe was questioned very early on in this process.". Guillens sister, Mayra, previously told NBC's "Dateline" that Guillen never identified the person who allegedly harassed her and never reported the incidents to the Armys sexual harassment and prevention program. He later picked Aguilar up at a gas station where she worked and brought her to the bridge along the Leon River. "I got a call from CID on June 30th," Mayra Guillen said. The soil beneath the burn site was remarkably softer and moister than the soil found at similar depths merely feet away and had an odor of decomposition, the complaint reads. SEE RELATED STORY: Army officials reveal new details in Vanessa You know how frustrating it was for me to not be there? "I was like, 'About time they said it,'" Cruz said. 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. Robinsons cell phone then tracked along the Leon River in a northward direction, and remained in the area for roughly two hours. Guillns murder has become a rallying cry for women veterans and service members who have faced sexual assault and harassment in their military careers. The family has called repeatedly for a congressional investigation, not an Army-directed investigation, however. To order She has pleaded not guilty to charges. Investigators previously had said they suspected foul play related to her disappearance. They later burned the clothes they were wearing during the process at their home. Im her family! She reports, writes and produces stories for NBC Latino and NBCNews.com. Guillen, a 20-year-old Houston native who received her rank of specialist on Wednesday, was last seen between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 22 in the parking lot of the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters where she worked at Fort Hood, officials said. Aaron David Robinson, 20, who had allegedly walked in on Guillen while she was showering in a locker room and watched. Guillen was last seen at a parking lot in Fort Hood, where she was stationed, on April 22. And it's like we could have did something, but we didn't know.". Aguilar was charged in federal court with conspiracy to tamper with evidence. I wasnt there, they didnt tell me! 2 killed, 4 wounded in Mississippi shooting; man arrested, 150 years later, Dixon bridge tragedy among nation's worst, Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to 'shut down the FBI' and replace it with something that sounds a lot like the FBI, Sanders: Biden could win in a landslide, Brooklyn community members mourn the life of family killed in fire, Remembering the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University, Cooler weather has arrived and looks to stay for the week ahead, Pine-Richland High School Band 2023 Pegasus Parade. Secretary of the Army where is it? she said. "When Houston went on lockdown [for COVID-19], she was really frustrated because the gyms were closed. At first they tried to set her on fire, but she wouldnt burn, Khawam told Army Times. Burned remains of a plastic tote or tough box were found in an area where Robinsons phone pinged. ", 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. Aaron David Robinson of Illinois, who was assigned to a building adjacent to where Guillen worked, first ran away from Fort Hood on Tuesday night after officials said they found partial human remains near the Leon River in Bell County. She attended her first Army training in June 2018 and was later stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, making the three hour drive back to Houston every weekend to see her family. Aaron David Robinson was a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier who trained as a 12B, Combat Engineer. "Nevertheless, we are still investigating.". And that's exactly what the criminal investigation is about," LaBoeuf said. On the other hand, murals aren't made for just anyone. The inspection will assess whether the command climate at Hood is supportive of soldiers reporting sexual harassment and seek to identify any potential systemic issues within the program at Hood, Efflandt said. The Army said Wednesday they promoted Private First Class Guillen, 20, to specialist due to her time in service. Army authorities have said a a superior noncommissioned officer in [Guillens] unit harassed her and theres no evidence she was sexually assaulted. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Aaron David Robinson, who was assigned to A. "However, all sexual harassment allegations are being investigated, as they are in every other instance.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Im troubled by his lack of compassion to the family and sincerity about meeting with the family, she said. Officials would also not say whether Guillens supervisors tried to check in with her at any point during the day after she was suspected to have been abducted. Authorities argued Robinson wheeled Guillens body out of an arms room with a large tough box, and got the help of his girlfriend Cecily Ann Aguilar, 24, in burning the body. Vanessa Guillen also spoke about it with her friends. Investigators quickly determined that the remains were too old to be Guillen's. The post straddles Bell and Coryell counties across 340 square miles of arid scrubland. Hightower said that at around 10 p.m., he found out that the last person she'd worked with in the arms room was Spc. In the last year, her name has become a rallying cry for women's safety and military reform. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, an Iraq War veteran, is the Democratic lead sponsor. Landy said he grabbed his keys and the two went out searching "almost around the whole base. It's her last known communication. Investigators later learned Robinson's phone pinged in Belton, Texas, by a bridge near the Leon River, about a 30 minutes away from base in the early morning hours after Vanessa vanished. Guillen's family says she had dreamed of serving her country in the military since she was a child. Earlier Thursday, Phelps said that Robinson died by suicide early Wednesday after fleeing Fort Hood the night before. At Efflandt's request, Army Forces Command ordered a seven-member inspector general team to Fort Hood to review the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program, (SHARP). For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Officials did not identify a civilian woman they arrested Tuesday in connection with Guillen's disappearance, described earlier as the estranged wife of a former soldier. Phelps said the Army has no credible information or reports that Guillen was sexually assaulted. Guilln told her family before she went missing that she had been sexually harassed by fellow soldiers, including by Spc. 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. Some of the soldiers who were around gave investigators bad information, he said. A box with wheels and handles was already there when she arrived. "While law enforcement agencies attempted to make contact with the suspect in Killeen, Texas, Specialist Robinson reportedly displayed a weapon and took his own life," said Phelps. Aaron Robinson. Aaron David Robinson was a 20-year-old soldier from Calumet City, Illinois. 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 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.. Khawam said she was told Robinson and his unnamed girlfriend were having an affair and that he called the woman to confess he had killed Guillen with a hammer. The two concocted a story about Aguilar and Robinson taking a long drive to a park in Belton, Texas, as an alibi, the complaint alleged. "She didn't talk to too many people," Landy told "20/20." Butdid my daughter have to die for all those girls to come out? However, Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt and Phelps on Thursday said there is still no evidence linking sexual harassment to Guillens disappearance. "We got harassed. U.S. army officials on Thursday would not say whether Robinson and the woman knew each other, citing an ongoing investigation. 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. It is unclear whether the person who harassed Guillen will be prosecuted at this time. Why? Vanessa Guillen. 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.. A lifetime, Gloria said. 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. Phelps would not comment on the allegations made by Khawam that Robinson murdered her because it is still an ongoing investigation. The two suspects returned to the site with hairnets and gloves on April 26, according to cell phone records. U.S. Army officials at Fort Hood today said that there is no evidence that a male soldier who killed himself this week to avoid police capture sexually assaulted 20-year-old Spc. Unidentifed remains believed by family members to be those of Guillen were recovered this week along the Leon River and are undergoing forensic testing. Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing from the Texas post since April. The remains of Spc. Robinson, who was supposed to be confined to a barracks room on Fort Hood, secretly left post on the night of June 30. 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. Sitting in her Houston home last week beside her youngest daughter, Lupe, who translated for the interview, Gloria Guillen said in Spanish that Vanessa gleamed with excitement as she planned for a wedding in November 2021. Aguilar, at the request of law enforcement, placed a controlled telephone call to Robinson wherein he never denied anything they did to Guillen and her body, the complaint reads. Tracking CA's reservoir levels, snowpack map, drought status, How safe is your neighborhood? Aguilar was charged later in the afternoon with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. This statement, however, is inconsistent with the lengths of the calls, the complaint reads. Company, 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the time Guillen, a fellow 3rd Cavalry soldier, disappeared April 22. Robinson shot himself in the head early Investigators suspect a fellow soldier, Spc. Vanessa Guillen of Fort Hood was going to be a bride. I was just checking, but nothing. July 2, 2020 / 10:25 PM / CBS Chicago KILLEEN, Texas (CBS) -- A Calumet City soldier was the main suspect in the murder of fellow soldier Vanessa Guillen, CBS 2 has Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. She said Army investigators rarely contacted the family before releasing information. At a news conference Thursday, the Army identified the soldier suspected in Guillens disappearance as Aaron David Robinson. Investigators discovered human remains which had been buried and covered in concrete. Jessica Priest is an investigative reporter for USA TODAY, reach her at jpriest@gatehousemedia.com. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Just why?" Loved ones of Spc. McCarthy first tweeted about Guilln in late June two months after her disappearance, and after Guillns murder began gathering national awareness. She never deployed overseas but was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (posthumously), the National Defense Service Ribbonand the Army Service Ribbon. The hashtag became a platform where service members shared their own accounts of sexual harassment and assault. Phelps said that at this time there is no credible information that Robinson sexually harassed Guillen, despite claims by the Guillen family lawyer. Location data from Robinsons phone showed that at nearly 2 a.m. on April 23, the device was in the vicinity of a bridge along the Leon River. Robinson fatally shot himself July 1 when authorities confronted him off post, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "That's the regiment Vanessa used to work, and everyone that passes through that gate will see my sister's name, my sister's picture and remind themselves about how sexual harassment and assault has to be taken seriously, and about the way she was murdered because no one deserves that.". McCarthy on July 10 announced after meeting with Democrat Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX) and the activist group League of United Latin American Citizens that he has directed an independent, comprehensive reviewof the command climate and culture at Fort Hood, as well as the surrounding military community.. "Memories never die," he said. Guillen, 20, was stationed at Fort Hood when she went missing on April 22. Aguilar has been charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Her disappearance happened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while "everybody's sheltering," he said, so "we had very few soldiers moving about.". 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. I need to know every single step of this issue! I Am Vanessa Guillen: Everything You Need to Know - Netflix Aaron David Robinson, another soldier at Fort Hood, allegedly attacked Guillen, per the Guillen family attorney. Investigators spoke to over 300 soldiers in Vanessa Guillen's unit, including Hightower. "After subsequent investigation, another allegation of verbal harassment involving the same individual was discovered. Immediately, Vanessas dad said, Thats not something Vanessa would do, Khawam said. Aaron David Robinson, 20, beat Guillen to death with a hammer on April 22, 2020 in Fort Hood, Texas. "It was so many rumors, we didn't know what to believe," Hightower said. This heinous act caused her blood to be splashed all over the armory room, Khawam said in a statement to the Army Times. Khawam said the family told her that Guillen had planned to file a harassment complaint against Robinson the day after she was killed, and Her family is still looking for answers as to why she was killed, and how her murderer escaped justice. They arrived after midnight and Mayra says they were told by the staff sergeant to come back in the morning. Vanessa Guillens body along the Leon River, about 30 miles from Fort Hood, after she was killed on April 22, the complaint alleged. Have a tip or story idea? Aaron David Robinson of Illinois, who was assigned to a building adjacent to where Guillen worked, first ran away from Fort Hood on Tuesday night after officials said She needs to be brought to justice.. Born and raised in Houston to immigrants from Mexico, Guillen was one of six children. 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. Authorities on Thursday said 20-year-old Spc. The remains of Spc. Fort Hood officials suspected foul play in the disappearances of both Morales and Guillen, but said they did not believe they were linked. The #IAmVanessaGuillen hashtag made its way to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "We will release information on those remains as soon as we can and after notification is made with the next of kin.". "I was like, 'Man, I hopefully [will] see a tweet or something. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. 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 told me, 'I love you. And there was none," Martin said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. "I knew something was wrong because I'd check her social media," Cruz said. Morales had been listed as a deserter, but now the Army says foul play is suspected. "We been knowing since when it first happened because nothing makes sense. Phelps said that because she is a civilian and is in the custody of local authorities the Army will not release any further information regarding her status. "It's so important because it will bring the help my sister never obtained, it will bring the voice my sister never had.". "[Robinson] was like, 'Oh, I kept it professional; didn't say too much to her.' Two days later, the military opened up a separate inquiry looking into allegations that Guillen was sexually harassed by a supervisor. They reported her missing to her superiors that night, Guillen said, though investigatorssaid the Army told the family. She questioned the Army's conclusion that Robinson did not harass Vanessa Guillen. Because Im family! The slain soldiers family has criticized higher ups for the months-long pace of the investigation. Khawam said Robinson hid Guillens body in a Pelican case a hard-sided, watertight storage in common use in the military stored in the armoury room before later dumping her body near the Leon River. KILLEEN, Texas (CBS) -- A Calumet City soldier was the main suspect in the murder of fellow soldier Vanessa Guillen, CBS 2 has learned. "We were interviewing other people in the unit as well to find out, was there a relationship between Vanessa and Spc. Landy said he found out his friend's remains had been found from a news article. She was reported missing in April but her remains were not found until July. Officials said that her car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were found in the armory room where she was working on the day she disappeared. Cruz saw the woman he planned to marry for the last time on April 19, 2020, three days before she went missing. Army investigators repeatedly denied detaining any other suspects. Guillen received a posthumous promotion from Private First Class to Specialist. Fort Hood officials said that the human remains discovered recently have not been identified. She said she hoped publicizing such questions would push the Army to answer the familys pleas for transparency. Dismembered human remains believed to be Guillen's were found in a shallow grave about 30 miles east of the Fort Hood base this week. The family deserves these answers.". On May 18, nearly a month after Vanessa Guillen's disappearance, investigators spoke to two witnesses who said they saw Robinson exiting the arms room on April 22 with Guillens family, joined by friends and strangers in the Killeen community, worked tirelessly to demand justice and a thorough search for the missing soldier. Landy said it was frustrating that investigators were seemingly not suspicious of Robinson. Ghislaine Maxwell ordered held without bail on child sex-t Dad of crying infant that triggered Texas massacre 'never thought' gunman would shoot, Georgia player under fire after racist remark during 2023 NFL Draft on livestream, Megyn Kelly sports red MAGA-style hat in poolside pic, Gayle King says she doesnt have a desire to retire: I want more work, WNBA star Brittney Griner is heading to the Met Gala, Mariah Carey celebrates Moroccan and Monroes 12th birthday: My babies, NY Post Sports Reporter Zach Braziller breaks down the Knicks game 1 loss to the Heat, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Kendall Jenner rocks sheer top, fur mini skirt for date night with Bad Bunny. The last time she texted me was that morning, and she just sent a screenshot with the weather. Investigators spoke to Robinson again and he let them search his phone. July 2, 2020 / 10:25 PM Guillen," Phelps said. The Armys account of how Guillen died remains riddled with holes that investigators refuse to clarify, said the familys attorney Natalie Khawam. The Army's Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command.Maj. "The way that he knew that it was Vanessa was because he described her hair to me. She was supposed to next go to the motor pool, but witnesses there said she never arrived. In an interview with KXXV, a local television station in Killeen, Cruz said, "She was just gone, so she just disappeared. We drove the route she [would] usually run up the road on base which was 2 miles away from the barracks. HOUSTON -- Vanessa Guillen will forever be 20 years old, engaged but will never be married. We were kind of aware [of] what was going on," Landy said. In the calls, Robinson didn't deny anything. Contractors discovered the remains near the Leon River on June 30, 2020, authorities said. On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Vanessa Guillen's murder, the Army dedicated a gate to her memory at Fort Hood. A spokesperson for McCarthy confirmed to Breitbart News that he had not contacted the family: Yes thats correct. Aaron David Robinson, of Calumet City, Ill., admitted early last week during a phone call to Aguilar, as an investigator listened in, that he killed Guillen. 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. Nearly 40,000 infantrymen, cavalrymen, tankers, engineers, mechanics and health care professionals work at Fort Hood, which is nicknamed Great Place.. They were like, 'Maybe you did go hiking with her, and maybe you did actually rape her and leave her out there. I prayed to God so much, Gloria said.
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