Army officials. Several social media groups had been raising awareness about the soldiers disappearance for days before the Army post acknowledged the disappearance Sunday evening. Missing Fort Hood soldier a victim of 'abusive sexual contact,' Army says You dont hear anything about Greg. Vanessa Guillen, 20, has been missing from her unit since April 22, 2020, according to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. Nothing about Brandon. Fort Hood CID. His mother and aunt, Isabel Fernandes, told ABC News that they spoke to him on the phone several times while he was at the hospital, but he did not reveal much as to why he was there. [11] On October 1969, Killeen Base was designated as West Fort Hood. . It's a hated assignment, to be posted there. The 24-year-old's remains were found on June 21 in a. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Khawam announced at the press conference, attended by veterans including Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, that she's planning to propose legislation to protect U.S. military soldiers from sexual harassment and sexual assault. U.S. Army via AP Family attorney Natalie Khawam said while Guillen was taking a shower, a superior came into the bathroom, sat down and watched her. Photo: Sergio Flores/Getty Images. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Inside Fort Hood, where yet another soldier has gone missing If I hadn't been on post at the time, wouldn't have learned about it since it never got publicized. Missing Fort Hood soldier has returned to post - KWTX "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. Can confirm, barriers to entry are lower. A search of Guillen's cellphone records, according to court documents, showed that one of the last persons she was in contact with was Aaron David Robinson. Sgt. 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. A federal magistrate judge denied Cecily Aguilar bail after prosecutors revealed she expressed her desires to flee the country. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Timeline: What to know about missing Fort Hood soldier - ABC News Ninety-three of them were ultimately declared deserters, and of those, 15 remain unaccounted for. 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. New Climate Change Report Confirms: Everythings Terrible, But Maybe Not Hopeless. Gabbard said she knows "personally the strength of the chain of command. [12], More than 90 feet[13] below the mountain top,[12] tunnel corridors stretch 20 feet wide with 30-foot ceilings big enough for vehicles to travel the tunnels. https://heavy.com/news/2020/06/foul-play-suspected-after-greg-morales-found-dead/, Brandon Rosecrans was found dead with a gunshot wound 13 miles from base. LAREDO, Texas Two soldiers stationed in Texas have been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. "She was afraid to report it. "I can't get access to any information, the Army is not giving any information to no one. ET) October 7, according to a statement by the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services (DES), which said she failed to report to work that day. Dawn Gomez holds her 3-year-old granddaughter, Saryia Greer, who waves at Vanessa Guillen's mural painted by Alejandro "Donkeeboy" Roman Jr. on the side of Taqueria Del Sol, July 2, 2020, in Houston. Fort Hood said Fernandes, a native of Brockton, Mass., was found deceased near Lake Polk in Temple, Texas, about 30 miles from the base. Another soldier is missing from Fort Hood, Army says Prior to this year, there were 38 deaths at Fort Hood in 2019, including 17 deaths by suicide; in 2018, there were a total of 28 deaths, with 16 deaths by suicide. Ailina Fernandes told The Boston Globe that her son had been hospitalized on Aug. 11 for reasons she did not know, and was reportedly given a ride home by a staff sergeant when he was discharged on Aug. 17. Its super sketchy. The officials who have been let go include Major General Scott Efflandt, who was in charge of the base earlier this year when Vanessa Guilln was killed, in addition to Major General Jeffery Broadwater, the commander of the 1st Cavalry Divisions. Aguilar is interviewed twice by investigators. I was a contractor on Fort Hood from 2016-2019 and regularly traveled throughout every inch of the base more so than anyone else on that base due to the service contract I was involved with. Also in July, the army named a five-person civilian panel to conduct a review of the culture at Fort Hood. PDF United States Army - U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division hide caption. It's right up there as most hated place to be posted. Everything is like pulling teeth to get any information from them.". Last month, Khawam and the Guillen family introduced the #IAmVanessaGuillen bill, which would allow active duty service members to file claims of sexual harassment and assault to an outside third party. Sewell was last seen leaving her barracks around 4 p.m. (5 p.m. According to the Associated Press, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy opted to remove officials from their jobs including two general officers after findings from an independent panel investigation revealed the bases widespread problems. Elder Fernandes was last seen by members of his unit on Aug. 17. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Two more who had separated. Initial investigation appears that Sewell left for unknown reasons on her own accord, the statement said, noting she does not own a vehicle. The 1st Cavalry Division confirmed there is an open investigation into alleged abusive sexual contact involving Fernandes to ABC News Friday evening, saying that he was moved to a new unit and steps were taken to shield him from retribution. Jennifer Sewell had failed to report for duty on Thursday,. either didn't care or was covering up her murder. 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. The Commander at Fort Hood, Lt. General Pat White, will not face any administrative action. . When Vanessa Guillen was a little girl, she dreamed of joining the Army, her family said. 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. Milley raised concerns that warning signs of serious trouble may have been missed. Reward Increased: Missing Fort Hood Soldier . On June 19, skeletal remains found near Fort Hood, following an anonymous tip, were later identified as Pvt. **The conspiracy subreddit is a thinking ground. It has over 40k soldiers on post. She even reported to other soldiers on base, but she didn't want to do a formal report because she was afraid of retaliation and being blackballed, and she, like most victims, just tried to deal with it herself," Lupe Guillen, 16, told ABC News on July 1. I mean we can all do that.[4], The family of Gregory Wedel-Morales says that lack of justice coupled with a lack of transparency is serious cause for concern adding that Fort Hood needs to do a better job of ensuring safety for their younger soldiers on and off post. 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. The 20-year-old Vanessa Guillen was last seen April 22 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 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. Commanders will be required to list service members as absent-unknown for up to 48 hours while they do everything in their power to locate them and determine if their absence is an emergency or voluntary. Aguilar, 22, was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence for helping dispose of Vanessa Guillen's body, authorities said. ** The discovery came on the same day Guillen's family members announced they were seeking a congressional investigation into her disappearance. "The unit also facilitated his transfer from a unit who has recently deployed to a different unit within the brigade to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals.". 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. Fernandes as we work to find him," Brautigam said. 2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales went missing in 2019 while driving in Killeen, Texas. While at work on April 22, Guillen was contacted by a fellow soldier, Specialist Aaron David Robinson, via text message to deliver paperwork regarding a machine gun that needed to be serviced, according to court documents. In its statement, Fort Hood said there was no connection between Fernandes' disappearance and any other ongoing cases at the base. The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At the time of arrest, both men were wearing their U.S. Army uniforms. The main suspect in her disappearance, another soldier, killed himself as investigators confronted him. [14] The underground complex is one of only seven storage facilities in the U.S.[15][13], Pvt. Eleven of the deaths remain unresolvedsome. The body of another Fort Hood soldier, Pvt. Freddy Delacruz with Chuck Norris in 2019. Who Knew? Jennifer Sewell, a soldier who's been missing since last Thursday. Specialist Cole Jakob Aton was the most recent death,after he was hit by a car and died on August 12. ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report. Fort Hood soldier found safe with family after failing to show up for 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. Elder Fernandes was last seen by members of his unit on Aug. 17. Missing Fort Hood soldier was victim in 'abusive sexual contact - CNN The disappearance came amid a pending sexual harassment investigation. Investigators with CID talked to two witnesses who allegedly saw Robinson on April 22 leaving his work area with a large box that appeared "very heavy in weight," and place that box in his car before driving away, according to court documents. Vanessa Guillen, who disappeared in April 2020 and was later found to have been bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory where she worked. And the criminal is now in the military. People were showing up for P.T. Based on the review of Fort Hood, McCarthy says he concluded that the epidemic of violence and fear about what will happen next is directly related to leadership failures.. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much All we get are HOLLOW statements. As he returns to the care of his leadership this evening, he will no longer be considered AWOL. Then would send his little 'soldiers' in to burglarize their homes. Complaint: Missing Texas soldier was killed at Fort Hood Shady for sure. Ive only recently seen all this stuff and I thought it was really weird that its all happening at Fort Hood. 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. We hope to challenge issues which have captured the publics imagination, from JFK and UFOs to 9/11. Lock Investigators suspect foul play, according to Houston ABC station KTRK. On June 19, authorities discovered skeletal remains,[5] which they claimed to belong to Wedel-Morales. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Quotas in recruiting(I used to be 1) are about as fluid as it comes. Sometimes these absences garner media attention but the majority of them do not. QUANTICO, VA (June 15, 2020) - The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for credible information leading to the whereabouts of missing Fort Hood Soldier, Pfc. A number of service members have died or gone missing while stationed at the Army post just outside Killeen, Texas, in recent years, including 20-year-old Spc. Both Gore and Williams were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 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. His disappearance comes days after the 11th death at the Texas base this year. The Guillen family and Khawam said the deceased male suspect was a superior officer who allegedly walked in on Vanessa as she was showering, sat down and watched her. Pfc. Soldiers were assaulted, beaten, robbed. Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 30-month-term of imprisonment for Gore, while Williams received 24 months. Anne Aguilar is taken into custody by Texas Rangers on suspicion of being involved in the disappearance of Vanessa Guilln. Later, as local police and federal marshals closed in on Robinson, he died by suicide. McCarthy has also ordered a new Army policy that will amend how officials deal with missing soldiers. Have a question about Government Services? For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Elder Fernandes went missing just days after the 11th death at Fort Hood military base. The Pentagon's latest report on sex-related crimes in the military showed a 3% increase in the number of sexual assaults reported in the 2019 fiscal year -- 6,236 compared with 6,053 a year earlier. Tipsters are asked to contact Fort Hood military police at 254-288-1170 or U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at 254-287-2722. And in her statement, Khawam said Fernandes is the thirteenth Fort Hood soldier to have "vanished or been killed" this year. I also know and understand that fear Vanessa must have felt.". According to Khawam, Fernandes was sexually assaulted by his sergeant, then "bullied and hazed for reporting it.". 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. For other inquiries, Contact Us. There is no other range in the world where you have to worry about how much oxygen there is to breathe, says Gene Bauer, Fort Hood Range Manager. The army has said they have no evidence of that. Prior to her disappearance, Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. 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. "I guess the police is helping, but the Army's not so much," she said. Officials at Fort Hood are searching for a missing soldier - CNN 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. "They can't give answers. We need to find her and get justice," Mayra Guillen wrote. statement by the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services. Jennifer Sewell was last seen her barracks at Fort Hood on October 7, 2021, according to the Ford Hood Director of Emergency Servics. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death on Army base, family attorney says, Vanessa Guillen: Timeline offers look at tragedy and legacy of Ft. 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]. Add to that, Killeen is basically a crime-ridden ghetto surrounding the post. Thirteen killed themselves. She was allegedly bludgeoned to death before her body was chopped up and encased in cement. Four other soldiers who went missing are: SpcVanessa Guillen; Pvt. Judge Marmolejo also emphasized that everyone involved in the scheme knew that wearing a uniform would assist in evading detection or arrest. The Army did not give the reason for the hospitalization, citing patient confidentiality rules. Will It Matter To Anti-Vaxxers? A Texas man, Brandon Michael Olivares, was recently arrested and charged for Rosecrans' murder. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Army Pfc. The body of Hernandezvargas, from Woodside,New York, was also recovered from the water after a boating incident on August 2. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. 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. The body of Vanessa Guillen, 20,was found in a shallow grave near where she vanished in April. Vanessa Guilln, 20, whose remains were found after extensive national attention. 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. The base is the Army's Premier Installation to train and deploy heavy forces. The Army just now says that there is foul play in the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen. He was reported missing by his family, who have not heard from him since Aug. 17. The consultants' names have not yet been made public. Sgt. What to Know About the Death of Vanessa Guillen "We are actively searching to locate him and continue to stay in contact with his Family, friends, and law enforcement.". It was called after the Confederate General John Bell Hood. [20], Spc. [10], US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and civilian law enforcement are investigating Guillen's disappearance. The Guillen family created social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to call attention to Vanessa's sexual assault allegation and disappearance. His death followed ten other soldiers includingVanessa Guillen, whoseremains were found months after she went missing. Fort Hood said Fernandes' disappearance sparked a thorough search in Central Texas, with members of his base scouring hospitals and hotels. Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales' death, and the Army is offering a $25,000 reward for information. CNN The body of a missing Fort Hood soldier has been found. Fort Hood is conducting an investigation in whether Guilln was sexually harassed or not.[10]. A Warner Bros. Robinson's cellphone records corroborated Aguilar's story and placed the pair along the Leon River, according to court documents. Robinson then drove Aguilar to the Leon River, where he opened the box to reveal Guillen's body, court records show. Fort Hood Independent Review Committee - United States Army