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Murder of Vanessa Guillén

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Vanessa Guillén
Born(1999-09-30)September 30, 1999
Houston, Texas
DisappearedApril 22, 2020 (aged 20)
Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas, United States
NationalityAmerican
EducationChávez High School (Houston)
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Parent(s)Rogelio Guillen
Gloria Guillen
Military Career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
RankPrivate First Class
Unit3rd Cavalry Regiment

Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old woman, went missing from the U.S. Fort Hood Army base in Texas where she was stationed. She was last seen in the parking lot of her barracks on April 22, 2020. Before Guillen went missing, she informed her family that she was being sexually harassed by one of her sergeants at Fort Hood. She did not identify the man by name.[2] Before her disappearance, Vanessa's mother, Gloria, advised her to report him. Vanessa informed her mother that other women had reported the sergeant and that they were dismissed.[3][4] In response, Vanessa stated that "she could put a stop to it herself"[5] out of fear that her mother would be harmed if her mother were to report the sergeant.[4] A few weeks later, Vanessa disappeared.[4] On July 1, 2020, at a news conference, Vanessa's family reported that a body found near Fort Hood was likely Vanessa.[6] The main suspect in the case, a fellow soldier, killed himself the same day.[6]

U.S. representative Sylvia Garcia reported that "this is not the first time we hear of allegations of sexual assault in the armed services"[2] and suspects that foul play was involved.[7] The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command claimed there was "no credible information"[5] that Guillen was assaulted and also denied that her case was linked to the disappearance of Gregory Wedel-Morales, another soldier who went missing in August 2019 while driving his car in Killeen, Texas, but did confirm that they believed foul play was involved in her disappearance.[8][2][5] Guillen's family had also asserted that Vanessa disappeared under suspicious circumstances.[3] Her disappearance attracted national attention in June 2020.[5] She was promoted to Specialist on July 1 due to "time in service".[9]

Background

Guillen was born and raised in the Houston area. Family members said that Guillen "loved to jog but has always been avid about sports and learning." Guillen reportedly graduated in the top 15% of her high school class, "where she played soccer and remained active with other physical activities."[4]

Prior to her disappearance, Vanessa had expressed to her mother Gloria that she did not feel safe at Fort Hood. Vanessa told her mother that she was being stalked, harassed, and stared at by a sergeant which made her very uncomfortable. Guillen stated that the unnamed sergeant would follow her while she went jogging. Guillen stated that she had trouble sleeping, something which had never happened to her previously. She referred to the Fort Hood base as "evil."[4]

In response, Vanessa's mother stated that she would report the sergeant. Frightened for her mother's safety, Vanessa expressed she would address the issue herself.[4]

Disappearance

Guillen went missing at 1 p.m. on April 22, 2020 in the parking lot of Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters at Fort Hood,[4] a U.S. military post which covers "roughly 340 square miles of Coryell and Bell counties in central Texas between Waco and Austin and is home to III Corps and the First Cavalry Division, as well as many tenant units."[2] She was last seen wearing a black shirt and purple fitness-type pants.[2] Guillen was described as being "of Hispanic descent, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, 126 pounds with black hair and brown eyes."[3] According to her family's website, Guillen "has tattoos of a cross with a flower on her left arm, a flower also on her left arm and a mountain with a circle on her upper left shoulder."[2]

Investigation

Guillen's family reported her missing almost immediately. Vanessa's mother Gloria Guillen vowed to shut down the base if her daughter was found dead.[6]

One text message sent on Guillen's private cellphone to a supervisor that day was a serial number of a gun she was tasked with reviewing, according to Khawam. Her attorney called the text message "disturbing" and said she suspects Guillen may not have been the one to send the message.[10]

On April 27, news outlets began to report that a joint search was underway for Guillen by military members and local police.[11]

Guillen's family and friends rallied in Killeen, Texas at Lyons Park to raise awareness about Vanessa's disappearance. Friends and family members expressed their concerns over getting attention to Vanessa's disappearance and the difficulties her disappearance had caused them.[12] Various search parties were conducted by her family.[13]

In June, more than 150 people had been interviewed regarding Guillen's disappearance. Ground and air searches, assisted by more than 500 soldiers, drones, helicopters and dogs[6] were conducted by the army in the Fort Hood and central Texas region.[5] Some of her belongings, including her keys and wallet, were found at her workplace.[6] Her regiment commander stated "Vanessa Guillen is a highly valued member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. We will maintain our resolve to locate Pfc. Vanessa Guillen and will continue our efforts until she is found. We will never quit searching."[14]

Suspects

Early on July 1, Killeen police attempted to make contact with a suspect tied to Guillen's disappearance. According to Army investigators, the suspect killed himself after being confronted. Another suspect, the estranged wife of a Fort Hood solider, is being held at the Bell County Jail. Neither of the suspects have been named.[6]

Reactions

Guillen's mother, Gloria, informed reporters at a news conference that she did not trust the U.S. Army handling the investigation into Vanessa's disappearance. The family's attorney Natalie Khawam, stated that she believes the family is "being kept in the dark"[5] since, as of June, few details had been released regarding her disappearance.[15] Khawam stated:[5]

This is on a federal government base. A military base. There has to be more accountability. And [there are] more protections and safeguards than anywhere else. How can you not have these answers? The irony. You talk about all these gate checks and all these security checks... yet someone goes missing? This doesn't happen. And the fact that, she wasn't even supposed to be working that day. She was off that day. Why did they call her in?

Hundreds of people protested at the gates of Fort Hood in June. Protest organizers stated that "it's unfathomable that in a base such as this that is federally secure they don't know who is coming in or going out or what happened to Vanessa. She did not just disappear into thin air."[15]

Salma Hayek pledged her support in the campaign to find Guillen, committing to post a photograph to her Instagram story everyday until she is found.[3]

Domingo García, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a leading civil rights organization for Latinos, added a $25,000 reward to the existing reward amount of $25,000 announced by the U.S. Army for finding Guillen.[5] Houston rapper Baby Bash pledged an additional $5,000 to the reward.[16]

New York immigration attorney Luis Gomez Alfaro planned a vigil for Guillen in Times Square for June 19.[17]

On July 1, A campaign was started in an effort to get the army to change the name of the base that is named after a Confederate General John Bell Hood to PFC Vanessa Guillen in honor of her service to this country and help spread the message of eliminating sexual harassment and sexual assault within the Army. [18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guillén likely found, family says, as suspect kills himself". The Washington Post. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lee, Alicia (June 17, 2020). "Reward for missing soldier Vanessa Guillen grows to over $50,000 after Latino group and rapper add to it". CNN.
  3. ^ a b c d McCarthy, Tyler (June 15, 2020). "Salma Hayek uses social media to find missing US Army soldier Vanessa Guillen". Fox News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Egan, Leigh (June 17, 2020). "'How can you not have these answers?': Reward reaches $50K as desperate search for missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen continues". CrimeOnline.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Brito, Christopher (June 17, 2020). "Reward for missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen doubles to $50,000". CBS News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f Horton, Alex; Hernández, Arelis R. (July 1, 2020). "Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guillén likely found, family says, as suspect kills himself". Washington Post. Retrieved July 2, 2020. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ "Vanessa Guillen search: Lawmaker suspects foul play in the disappearance of Texas soldier". 6 ABC Action News. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Osbourne, Heather. "Foul play suspected in Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen's disappearance". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "Army to investigate Fort Hood SHARP program after disappearance of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen". Connecting Vets. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Osbourne, Heather. "Foul play suspected in Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen's disappearance". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Garger, Kenneth (April 27, 2020). "Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen goes missing, search underway". New York Post.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Hice, Jim (May 4, 2020). "'Bring Vanessa Home' | Family, friends rally to bring awareness to missing Fort Hood soldier". KCETV.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Gibbs, Alex (May 30, 2020). "Family and volunteers hold search party for missing Fort Hood soldier". KWTX.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Houmard, Celeste (June 10, 2020). "Officials give update on search for missing Fort Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen". KCENTV.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ a b Allen, Jack (June 13, 2020). "Hundreds rally to seek answers for missing soldier Pfc. Vanessa Guillen". 25 ABC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Baby Bash vows to add $5,000 to reward in search for missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen". KRIS 6 News. June 16, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Caldwell, Jasmine (June 17, 2020). "Killeen restaurant releases surveillance video of missing Fort Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen before disappearance". KCENTV.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Campaign#justiceforPFCVanessaGuillen(July 1,2020)
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