[10] He held the rank of Specialist at the time of his death. Elder Fernandes was last seen by members of his unit on Aug. 17. The main suspect in her disappearance, another soldier, killed himself as investigators confronted him. A private first class when she disappeared, she was promoted to specialist effective July 1, based on time in service, according to Fort Hood. The news was first announced by the family's. Gregory Morales, was reported missing from the base a year ago on August 20, 2019. All of this is expected to trigger further investigations, which could lead to additional punishments for those found responsible. Specialist Cole Jakob Aton was the most recent death,after he was hit by a car and died on August 12. Another Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. Officials at Fort Hood are searching for a missing soldier - CNN New Climate Change Report Confirms: Everythings Terrible, But Maybe Not Hopeless. A sergeant stands guard at the entrance to Fort Hood Army base in Texas April 2, 2014. n attorney for Vanessa Guillens family has said that Aaron Robinson is a suspect in Guillens disappearance and he killed himself, Robinsons girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, the estranged wife of a Fort Hood soldier, was also involved, officialssaid, The missing person's poster relating to the 20-year-old's disappearance in April, Civilian who helped soldier cut up Vanessa Guillens body after he bludgeoned her to death is identified. Fernandes, ensuring he was aware of all his reporting, care, and victim advocacy options," said division spokesman Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam. Eleven of the deaths remain unresolvedsome. by: Allison . She was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence and pleaded not guilty. Fort Hood is located halfway between Austin and Waco and is about 60 miles from each city. Is a lawyer and publicity to beat the army up to get answers? https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/army-suspects-foul-play-disappearance-fort-hood-soldier-vanessa-guillen-n1231928/, Army suspects foul play when they find Gregory Morales body outside of Fort Hood. Robinson had joined the Army in October 2017 and was trained as a combat engineer. Robinson's cellphone records corroborated Aguilar's story and placed the pair along the Leon River, according to court documents. The disappearance came a year after the disappearance of Pfc . An announcement made on Tuesday details that the army base is also ordering policy changes to address consistent leadership failures that fostered serious patterns of violence including murder, sexual assaults, and harassment that have now become synonymous with the Fort Hood. Aguilar told authorities the two of them then dismembered Guillen's body using a "hatchet or machete type knife" and buried pieces of her body in three separate holes, according to court documents. Vanessa's older sister, 22-year-old Mayra, started an online fundraiser to cover the cost of a private investigator and an attorney. A Texas man, Brandon Michael Olivares, was recently arrested and charged for Rosecrans' murder. Officials within Vanessa Guillen's unit become aware she's missing, according to court documents. CID said on July 1 that investigators had conducted more than 300 interviews in the case.[8], Fort Hood officials said they were not aware of reports of sexual harassment involving Robinson but the investigation was ongoing. Ive only recently seen all this stuff and I thought it was really weird that its all happening at Fort Hood. Another Army soldier missing at Fort Hood; search underway The remains were found in a field in Killeen, Texas, about 26 miles from the site of Guillns remains at Leon River. And the criminal is now in the military. Fernandes' disappearance comes after a difficult month for Fort Hood. People were showing up for P.T. Missing Fort Hood soldier has returned to post - KWTX Her sisters said Guillen, 20, told them and fellow soldiers that she was being sexually harassed by a superior and was fearful of reporting the incident because of potential retaliation. Guillen was last seen in the parking lot at Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters, 3rd Cavalry Regiment on the Fort Hood base, according to theUSArmy. In March, 20-year-old Shelby Tyler Jones also died near Fort Hood after suffering a gunshot wound in south Killeen, and Brandon Scott Rosecrans, was found dead with a gunshot wound near Fort Hood in May. Wasn't that uncommon to find drug paraphernalia in equipment, dorms, work areas, etc. FORT HOOD, Texas (KWTX) - Fort Hood late Sunday announced PVT Brendan Lush, who had been missing since Monday, May 9, had been located and was being returned to his Army unit with the assistance of law enforcement. In June, police also found the skeletal remains of 24-year-old Pvt Gregory Scott Morales Oklahoma in a field after they received a tip following his disappearance on August 19, 2019. Killeen Police Department and Harker Heights PD have confirmed pending investigations involving up to seven soldiers who were brutally murdered from 2019 to 2020.[4]. Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam, a 1st Cavalry Division public affairs officer, told CNN in a statement that there is an "open. Elder Fernandes, who was found hanging from a tree over the summer, as well as Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, a 24-year-old soldier who drowned near the base. Official websites use .gov On June 30, Robinson went missing from his Fort Hood post. Online there was a group of young teens bragging about breaking into houses of soldiers. Sgt. Assistant U.S. After a year of record violence at Fort Hood in 2020, army leaders have announced that they are firing or suspending 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at the base. An investigation into Hernandezvargas's death is currently underway. She told her mother, Gloria Guillen, that she did not feel safe at the base and that a sergeant there had been sexually harassing her, according toCrime Online. And his Jeep was on fire. Authorities in Texas are searching for another missing Fort Hood soldier amid a tumultuous period for the base that's included multiple service members turning up dead. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death on Army base, family attorney says, Fort Hood soldier found shot dead miles from his vehicle burning near Texas base, Army launches civilian review of Fort Hood following Vanessa Guillen's killing, Going Underground; A Look at the Tunnels Under West Fort Hood, http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/ufo/krill.papers, Vanessa Guilln was so brutally dismembered and burned that investigators COULDNT use dental records to identify her, Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guilln identified by Army, family says, Killing of Vanessa Guilln#Persons involved, We have a problem at Fort Hood: Expert says murders of soldiers Vanessa Guillen and Gregory Morales are linked. "I have long advocated for real reforms for them to report these incidents outside the chain of command," Gabbard added. The body of Hernandezvargas, from Woodside,New York, was also recovered from the water after a boating incident on August 2. Never publicized. appreciated. Khawam later said she was told Guillen and Robinson had an argument in the armory where they worked after she discovered his alleged affair with the estranged wife of a former soldier. As investigators searched for Guillen's body amid her disappearance, multiple other soldiers' bodies were recovered. The Guillen family created social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to call attention to Vanessa's sexual assault allegation and disappearance. Updated on: June 3, 2016 / 10:45 PM / CBS/AP. Based on information gathered from fellow soldiers, Fernandes "may have left Fort Hood on his own accord," according to a statement from the Army Criminal Investigation Command Friday. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Body Of Missing Fort Hood Soldier Elder Fernandes Found A Week After Officials at Fort Hood in Texas are searching for Pfc. [10], US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and civilian law enforcement are investigating Guillen's disappearance. All are active duty soldiers with the U.S. Army. Khawam announced at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol that a suspect tied to Guillen's disappearance died by suicide, and that a second suspect, a woman, had been arrested. What Happened At Fort Hood That Led To 14 Firings? Mejhor Morta, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, was found in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake around 20 minutes from Fort Hood military base inTexason July 17. Also theres a huge prison right next to it. The criminal complaint released later Thursday said the civilian arrested in the Guillen case is Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, Texas, near Fort Hood. ET . These are only some of many that signaled an alarming pattern that's developed over the years with several of the deaths that occurred on or near the base linked to foul play. Her case inspired protests and led the Army to discipline more than a. Meanwhile, an Army official said Army investigators have found information that Guillen was harassed, but that it was not sexual harassment, as Guillen's family has claimed, and that it did not involve alleged killer Robinson. He has not been seen or heard from family members since Monday, August 17, according to the Killeen Police Department. statement by the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services. Found out their "leader" was a staff sgt who was aware of who was on post, exercises, etc and knew which houses would be empty and when. [20], Spc. His girlfriend Cecily Ann Aguilar, 22, was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. His family members have publicly questioned the base's narrative that he left on his own volition. Is that what it takes? Lupe Guillen said the hashtags #FindVanessaGuillen, #IamVanessaGuillen and #WeAreVanessaGuillen have become a sounding board for other military members who say they've been victims of sex-related crimes while on duty. The Army Criminal Investigation Command confirmed that the human remains found near a lake about 20 miles from the Fort Hood military base belonged to Guillen. The Army just now says that there is foul play in the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen. Jennifer Sewell was last seen her barracks at Fort Hood on October 7, 2021, according to the Ford Hood Director of Emergency Servics. Five were murdered. The body of missing Fort Hood soldier Elder Fernandes was found on Tuesday night, more than one week after the 23-year-old sergeant was last seen. Project HAARP Is The US Controlling The Weather? Both are currently awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaa. Vanessa Guillen was last seen in the parking lot of the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters for 3rd Cavalry Regiment, The president offered to personally help pay for Guillen's funeral, Trump reportedly told Guillen's family he supported the congressional bill titled #IAmVanessaGuillen. "We are heartbroken for Elder Fernandes' family and sickened by this tragedy that has happened too many times at Fort Hood," she said, alluding to a string of recent deaths and disappearances involving soldiers at the base. Everything is like pulling teeth to get any information from them.". Who Knew? Aguilar then told officials that Robinson placed Guillen's body in a box, placed the box in his car and drove his car to a gas station where Aguilar worked. Elder Fernandes' disappearance comes days after the 11th death at the Texas base this year, Guillen's body was found encased in concrete, Pvt. "We appreciate the working relationship we have with his family as we work together to find him and provide for his well being," Brautigam said. Guillens family met with President Donald Trump this month and he promised to deliver justice for the Army soldier who was killed in April. Pvt. Elder Fernandes was last seen by members of his unit on Aug. 17. Hood soldier, What We Know About the Death of Vanessa Guillen, Army announces new investigation into Vanessa Guillen case as senior Fort Hood official removed from post, Army officials reveal new details in Vanessa Guillen case, U.S. Army Foot Hood website: REMEMBERING VANESSA GUILLEN, What to know about missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen, The military failed him, family of slain Fort Hood soldier Gregory Wedel Morales says, The military failed him: Soldiers bones found months after he was labeled a deserter, Family hopes autopsy will help strike dead Fort Hood soldiers name from deserter list, Fort Hood: What we know about 12 soldiers missing, slain or killed in accidents since January, Lawmakers to officially introduce #IAmVanessaGuillen bill Wednesday, Military makes little effort to punish deserters, A Year of Heartbreak and Bloodshed at Fort Hood, Missing Fort Hood soldier found in Louisiana, Vanessa Guillens Mother Claims Her Killer Did Not Die. U.S. Army via AP His disappearance comes days after the 11th death at the Texas base this year. Family attorney Natalie Kwaham said she was beaten so badly that officials had trouble using dental records to identify her since her teeth were smashed up. Law enforcement, Sewells chain-of-command and her family have been unable to contact her in the time since. The body of Spc Vanessa Guillen, 20,was found in a shallow grave near the Leon River about 20 miles east of the Fort Hood military base following her April disappearance. Army Secretary Ryan McCarty announced in June that an independent probe into the deaths would be launched. After giving a false statement that Robinson was calling her phone repeatedly because she couldn't find it, she told investigators that on the night of April 22, they took a "long drive" to Belton, Texas, to "look at the stars," according to court document. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The official report given by US Army Criminal Investigation Command[8] to media outlets is that Robinson fled Fort Hood and fatally shot himself shortly after midnight when law enforcement approached him in Killeen, Texas.[16], In a news release by Killeen Police Department, they state that "As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself. Specialist Guillen was reported missing from Fort Hood in April 2020, and her remains were found on June 30, 2020. Since the 21st century, the complex has been used for tunnel warfare training, by various units, who are stationed at Fort Hood. Above all else, we respect everyone's opinions and ALL religious beliefs and creeds. Officials at Fort Hood, Texas, said Sunday that a soldier who had disappeared from the base was found safe with her family. When Vanessa Guillen was a little girl, she dreamed of joining the Army, her family said. **Our intentions are aimed towards a fairer, more transparent world and a better future for everyone. Fort Hood said Fernandes' disappearance sparked a thorough search in Central Texas, with members of his base scouring hospitals and hotels. Sgt. Missing Fort Hood soldier found | KWKT - FOX 44 - FOX44 News Should Wealthy Countries Give COVID Booster Shots When Other Countries Still Dont Have Vaccines. 2. And in her statement, Khawam said Fernandes is the thirteenth Fort Hood soldier to have "vanished or been killed" this year. ', 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guilln, was reported missing. either didn't care or was covering up her murder. Fort Hood: What we know about 12 soldiers missing, slain or killed in I'm surprised there isn't more that happens to the soldiers. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Fernandes was last seen by his staff sergeant on Monday afternoon, when he was dropped off at a residence located in the 2700 block of Woodlands Drive in Killeen, police said. We need to find her and get justice," Mayra Guillen wrote. Guillen's mother said a few months before her daughter went missing, Vanessa told her she was being sexually harassed by a superior but didn't report it out of fear of retaliation. [5] Wedel was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance, the Army said. However, with the investigation underway, its unclear what other actions will be taken based on findings and its possible that the officers and soldiers may be fully released with dishonorable discharges, among other consequences. It has over 40k soldiers on post. "We are at a loss for words.". Ft. ABC News' Abby Cruz contributed to this report. Authorities searching for another missing Fort Hood soldier Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 30-month-term of imprisonment for Gore, while Williams received 24 months. The Fernandes family has retained an attorney, Natalie Khawam, who's also the attorney for the family of Vanessa Guillen, 20, who went missing from Fort Hood in late April and whose remains were discovered near the base months later.

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