And he was around us, too. Im troubled by his lack of compassion to the family and sincerity about meeting with the family, she said. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. ", "We were in my car at the time," Landy said, "and we went to the track that she usually would be at, just in case she didn't really wanna talk to anybody and wanted to get stuff off her mind. Cowboys Miss On Kicker; Sign Gould? Jerry Reveals Plan In an interview with KXXV, a local television station in Killeen, Cruz said, "She was just gone, so she just disappeared. The Guillen sisters in unison agreed that the investigators explanation was wrong. Aaron David Robinson, who was assigned to A. Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. A Fort Hood soldier who authorities identified earlier Thursday as another suspect in Guillen's disappearance, E-4 Specialist Aaron David Robinson, allegedly told The Austin American-Statesman and USA TODAY attempted over a two-week period to speak with investigators from the Army, the FBI and Killeen police to verify Khawam and the Guillen familys accounts of what took placebut did not receive a response or were told no comment.. Robinson, who had been in the Army since 2017, worked in the same Regimental Engineer Squadron as Guillen. 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. 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 They eventually identified the remains as missing Fort Hood soldier Gregory Morales, who'd gone missing in August 2019, almost a year prior. My thoughts and prayers are with Vanessas family and all of her loved ones, and our focus is turned to supporting her family and honoring her legacy. Aaron David Robinson, a suspect in the disappearance of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen, died by suicide on Wednesday By People Staff Published on July 2, 2020 We believe Robinson could have made up that story to Aguilar because he needed help burying her body, Khawam said. "Our agents are working very closely with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner to expedite identification of the remains," Phelps said. No attorney for Aguilar was listed on the court filings. "I asked, 'Have you seen Guillen?' Fort Hood is the largest active duty armoured unit post in the U.S. military, according to the posts website. 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. 2020 ElectionPoliticsArmyFort HoodRyan McCarthysexual assaultsexual harassment. Aguilars phone was also tracked and revealed she was near the Leon River with Robinson on April 23 and 26. Hightower said that as they investigated her disappearance, he began to hear rumors circulating around the base about what had happened to his friend, including that she had been kidnapped at a church and that someone had taken her three hours away. While Guillens family and their attorney, Natalie Khawam, say the remains found near the river are likely that of the missing soldier, U.S. army officials at Fort Hood on Thursday said the remains had yet to be identified. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "I knew something was wrong because I'd check her social media," Cruz said. Gloria Guillen said that after learning of her daughters death, she was brought back to her prayer to God when Vanessa was just 15 days old. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide when authorities made contact with him, according to the Army. Red Table Talk: Vanessa Guillen's Mother Says Her Killer Did pic.twitter.com/mWwjiJx4ly. 'Dead suspect loophole' in Texas law restricting video release of The family held protests outside the post in Killeen and inHouston and Washington, demanding answers because they said they were consistently left in the dark. Aaron David Robinson. "It's so important because it will bring the help my sister never obtained, it will bring the voice my sister never had.". Investigators spoke to over 300 soldiers in Vanessa Guillen's unit, including Hightower. Earlier Thursday, Phelps said that Robinson died by suicide early Wednesday after fleeing Fort Hood the night before. During a news conference, Army Criminal Investigation Command Special Agent Damon Phelps named the now-deceased soldier as Spc. According to court records, Robinson admitted to Aguilar that he moved Guillens body from Fort Hood to a remote site in Bell County. "After subsequent investigation, another allegation of verbal harassment involving the same individual was discovered. Local law enforcement later found Robinson on East Rancier Avenue, east of Fort Hood near North Twin Creek Drive, where he pulled a gun and shot himself when confronted by Killeen police early Wednesday. 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. Aaron David Robinson. Aguilar helped authorities pinpoint his location so that he could be arrested. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Netflix's I Am Vanessa Guillen: Who is Aaron David Robinson? 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. African American combat engineer, Aaron Robinson, went missing from his Fort Hood post on June 30. US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) reported that Robinson commited suicide "As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself. I Am Vanessa Guillen: Everything You Need to Know - Netflix Aaron Robinson | The Conspiracy Wiki | Fandom Aaron David Robinson, another soldier at Fort Hood, allegedly attacked Guillen, per the Guillen family attorney. 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. "They just told me, 'We did find the partial human remains.' Suspect Named, New Details Released in Case of Missing Soldier This led investigators to search away from the actual scene of the crime. At 6 p.m, Hightower says he went looking for her. Army investigators have said theres no evidence Robinson harassed her. Company, 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the time Guillen, a fellow 3rd Cavalry soldier, disappeared April 22. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. In 2020, he had According to investigators, he even texted her links to news articles about the remains discovered near the Leon River. Looking at his phone records, investigators also found that Robinson had called Aguilar multiple times during the night after Vanessa Guillen went missing. I am not nervous to talk with him because this needs to stop, she said. Phelps said hundreds of acquaintances and friends were interviewed and there is no allegation whatsoever that shes been sexually assaulted or harassed and any hint of information that was sexual harassment was completely looked at without any credible information.. "I went to her room and her roommate answered the door," he said. Law enforcement officials attempted to make contact with Robinson, 20, on Tuesday in Killeen, Texas, but he displayed a weapon and took his own life, Phelps said during the news conference. But it wasn't too much I can do.". After a search began, police obtained Guillens phone records and saw that the last outgoing text message from her phone was to Robinsons cell phone. Guillen, that's not to say on the morning of her murder that he wasn't in the in the act of assaulting or harassing her. Investigators said Aguilar backed up his alibi. Robinson walked Aguilar over to the woods and opened up the box to show her a dead woman inside. Suspect in Fort Hood soldier case kills self, 2nd suspect jailed after Khawam said that if Guillendenied Robinsons advances in the armory room April 22, it could have led to her death. The press conference is to discuss the Armys efforts to address the recent events at Fort Hood, according to a press release. 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. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death by fellow soldier, attorney Robinson, who was supposed to be confined to a barracks room on Fort Hood, secretly left post on the night of June 30. Read Next: Military COVID-19 Cases Spike 41% in June, With Upticks in Hotspot States. ", Hightower told Landy that Vanessa was missing. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Allie Yang, Denise Martinez-Ramundo, Natalie Cardenas, and Chris Kilmer. Investigators suspect a fellow soldier, Spc. Investigators and volunteers had searched along the Leon River without success. Many of the details of how investigators say Guillen was killed and dismembered were first reported by Army Times on Thursday. Those wretches took her life away. The Guillens pleas for help spread nationally after #IAmVanessaGuillen went viral on social media this month. Khawam said Guillen reported her harassment to her family and fellow soldiers at the base. We keep demanding a congressional investigation! Killeen Police have body camera video and dashcam video from the incident but none of it has been released. Army officials said on Tuesday that they found partial human remains near the Leon River about 30 miles outside Fort Hood. On July 30, Khawam and the family will push for a law to allow a third-party investigative team to look into reports of sexual harassment within the military. Authorities on Thursday said 20-year-old Spc. He said he then went to spend the night with his girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, off the base. She added that McCarthy has scheduled a press conference for Thursday with media at Fort Hood, Texas, but has not even contacted the Guilln family to let them know it was happening. The family has called repeatedly for a congressional investigation, not an Army-directed investigation, however. "So he can murder her but he wouldn't sexually harass her. LupeGuilln, 16, slammed McCarthy at a press conference last week for not inviting her to the July 10 meeting. Phelps said the Army has no credible information or reports that Guillen was sexually assaulted. "Nevertheless, we are still investigating.". However, he declined to release the womans name. On May 18, two witnesses said that on the day of Guillens disappearance, they observed Robinson pulling a large tough box,' with wheels, that appeared very heavy out of the armory where he worked. Gloria said she believes her prayers healed Vanessa. Gloria Guillen said she saw her daughters health progressively deteriorate over the months leading up to her disappearance, saying her normally muscular and vibrant daughter became thin and reserved. Guillen's family said she planned to file a harassment complaint against Robinson, said Robinson became enraged when she told him and killed her a day before she planned to do it. Spc. 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. 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. She questioned the Army's conclusion that Robinson did not harass Vanessa Guillen. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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.. Aaron Robinson. Robinson's estranged wife has been arrested for her alleged involvement in the case. Also, at 4 p.m. that day, she "was mistakenly marked present," he said. As a matter of policy, the Army does not comment on ongoing litigation, U.S. Army spokesman Sgt. Together, they dismembered the body using a hatchet and a machete-type knife, the complained alleged. Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, III Corps deputy commanding general, announced during the press conference that the Inspector General's Office will examine the implementation of Fort Hood's sexual harassment and prevention program, assess whether the "command climate" is supportive of soldiers reporting sexual assault or harassment and "identify any potential systemic issues. The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Aaron David Robinson of Illinois who joined the Army in October 2017 as a combat engineer, KHOU reported. "I was astonished that they had so much information and details. ", He added that the Army cannot release his name "for the matter of privacy" and is "part of the investigation and the process.". Cecily Aguilar, 22, helped Spc. 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. First published on July 2, 2020 / 10:25 PM. ", Landy said Robinson acted "upset" that everybody kept "blowing up his phone.". She taught me many things because she was always tender, she was loving to me and we always loved each other. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide Wednesday morning as investigators were closing in. She said she hoped publicizing such questions would push the Army to answer the familys pleas for transparency. Then they dismembered this beautiful U.S. soldiers body with a machete. Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, faces one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence in the April 22 disappearance of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen, federal prosecutors in Texas' western district said in a statement. Investigators found remains in three separate shallow graves, each concealed with cement. Robinson harassed her.". 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. July 2, 2020 / 10:25 PM Loved ones of Spc. It is unclear whether the person who harassed Guillen will be prosecuted at this time. soldiers disappearance Authorities have said that Spc. It's her last known communication. Robinson fatally shot himself July 1 when authorities confronted him off post, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Armymaintained that it found no substantial evidence that Robinson was sexually harassing Guillen. Nearly 40,000 infantrymen, cavalrymen, tankers, engineers, mechanics and health care professionals work at Fort Hood, which is nicknamed Great Place.. Why? Aaron Robinson Earlier Thursday, Phelps said that Robinson died by suicide early Wednesday after fleeing Fort Hood the night before. "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. "I got a call from CID on June 30th," Mayra Guillen said. Phelps said that at this time there is no credible information that Robinson sexually harassed Guillen, despite claims by the Guillen family lawyer. "She didn't talk to too many people," Landy told "20/20." The findings of the committee identified major flaws with the sexual harassment and assault response prevention (SHARP) program at the base, fundamental issues with Fort Hood Criminal Investigation Command field office activities, and a command climate at Fort Hood that was permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault. However, no remain were located.. The #IAmVanessaGuillen hashtag made its way to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. When Gloria Guillen spoke publicly to the media about her daughter's sexual harassment, the case exploded onto the national news scene. Aaron Robinson of bludgeoning Guillen to death with a hammer on April 22, 2020, at Fort Hood. Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing from the Texas post since April. Army investigatorstold the family they found blood residue splattered throughout the armory room, which would have happened when Robinson killed Guillen with a hammer, Khawam said. Fort Hood officials said that the human remains discovered recently have not been identified. Two months after Vanessa Guillen's disappearance, leadership at Fort Hood held a press conference where they announced that investigators believed that foul play was involved in her disappearance. Robinson and Aguilar uncovered the remains, removed them and burned them again along with their gloves and hairnets. They arrived after midnight and Mayra says they were told by the staff sergeant to come back in the morning. We are going to love each other all our lives. Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. You know how they say no one is perfect? Lupe asked. This is the lawsuit. A box with wheels and handles was already there when she arrived. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. . Robinson was a suspect in Guillen's disappearance, but he "was not involved" in the separate investigation looking into the sexual harassment allegations, said Phelps. KILLEEN, Texas (CBS) -- A Calumet City soldier was the main suspect in the murder of fellow soldier Vanessa Guillen, CBS 2 has learned. A spokesperson for McCarthy confirmed to Breitbart News that he had not contacted the family: Yes thats correct. Authorities said that 20-year old Aaron David Robinson of Calumet City pulled a gun and shot himself as police were trying to make contact with him on Wednesday. "This gruesome murder should never have happened.". The Calumet City native entered the Army in October 2017 and was a combat engineer. We went to the motor pool [to] see if maybe she got locked in.". Jessica Priest is an investigative reporter for USA TODAY, reach her at jpriest@gatehousemedia.com. "That entrance leads to [the] 3rd Calvary Regiment," Lupe Guillen said. Robinson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when approached by law enforcement on Tuesday, according to Killeen police. Company, 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the time Guillen, a fellow 3rd Cavalry soldier, disappeared April 22. Aguilar purchased a bag of what she referred to as concrete from someone through Facebook messenger. IE 11 is not supported. 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.". Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, an Iraq War veteran, is the Democratic lead sponsor. Now, the Guillen family is planning for a funeral this month. Memorial honors slain Fort Hood soldier as family seeks ", Mayra Guillen said she "couldn't believe it.". The Guillens said they struggle to believe what Army investigators say. Guillen's family says she had dreamed of serving her country in the military since she was a child. 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. army officials at Fort Hood on Thursday identified the soldier who killed himself this week after he was questioned about his possible involvement in the disappearance of Spc. But justice will be done in the name of Jesus and Holy Mary. At that time, I suspected something was up. U.S. army officials on Thursday would not say whether Robinson and the woman knew each other, citing an ongoing investigation. Where is it? She needs to be brought to justice.. According to a criminal complaint that details what investigators believe happened to Guillen, Aguilar said she drove with Robinson to the Leon River where they tried to dispose of the body. And that's what the criminal investigation is seeking answers to as well.". She has pleaded not guilty to charges including tampering and being an accessory after the fact. Phelps would not comment on the allegations made by Khawam that Robinson murdered her because it is still an ongoing investigation. Fort Hood soldier slain, dismembered on post, family attorney Robinson, 20, also allegedly enlisted Aguilar who recognized Guillen to help him get rid of her body at a remote site in Bell County, near Fort Hood. 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. We were kind of aware [of] what was going on," Landy said. Aaron Robinson Army officials identify two suspects in case of missing Fort Hood soldier, Partial remains were found in Bell County earlier this week. 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. Robinson then placed the deceased soldier in a box and brought her to the Leon River, according to the complaint. After police issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for Robinson in July, Robinson fled and killed himself as police approached. Vanessa Guillens body along the Leon River, about 30 miles from Fort Hood, after she was killed on April 22, the complaint alleged. "We told them who to investigate from the beginning, and that's not what happened. HOUSTON Gloria Guillens fingers clenched her Rosary as she painfully described one of her last memories of her daughter the moment the proud mother learned Army Spc. Gen. Gene LeBoeuf told "20/20" in an exclusive interview that there were several factors that threw off the investigation in its early stages. To order copies of Gruesome details in report show Vanessa Guillen: Netflix Documentary Spotlights Soldier's "[Robinson] was like, 'Oh, I kept it professional; didn't say too much to her.' Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death on Fort Hood base, family Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing from the Texas post since April. We tried to tell them that it was this person, and he was just walking around like nothing happened. ", Time magazine unveils list of '100 Most Influential People', SF apartment residents recap ordeal with days-long power outage, CA influencer convicted of lying about kids' attempted kidnapping: DA. soldier, was murdered and body ", 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. She was caring and respectful and always used to joke about everything. Contractors discovered the remains near the Leon River on June 30, 2020, authorities said. He joined the Army in October 2017, training as a 12B, Combat Engineer. Martin said she went to the arms room, where she left her bank card, her ID card and the keys to her barracks room and car. Justice will be done.. Martin said Fort Hood authorities contacted the military police, who got in touch with local police, then brought in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division (CID). Guillen, 20, was stationed at Fort Hood when she went missing on April 22. Army Criminal Investigation Command investigators sat down with the Guillen family the day of Robinsons death and told them the 20-year-old soldier killed Guillen because she had seen a photo of Aguilar on his phone, recognized her as a woman married to another Fort Hood soldierand threatened to report his affair, according to Khawam. Landy said he grabbed his keys and the two went out searching "almost around the whole base. Slain Fort Hood soldier was sexually harassed, but not by They just kept trying to pin it on me or Landy," Hightower said. Guillen received a posthumous promotion from Private First Class to Specialist. 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. Khawam said she was told a third suspect was detained. Phelps denied allegations that Robinson was Guillen's superior, adding he was in "no way" in Guillen's line of command. Once Guillen was dead, Robinson then allegedly contacted his married girlfriend to help him bury her bloody body, Khawam said, according to the outlet. He didnt leave for the rest of the night, except to use a government computer to enroll in training, according to this account. Aguilar was charged with conspiracy to hide and destroy evidence in connection to Vanessa Guillen's death and was denied bond on July 14, 2020. Robinson sexually harassed Spc. "I didn't force her to do anything she didn't wanna do. The soldier worked in an adjacent building from where Specialist Guillen worked, said Army Criminal Investigation Command Special Agent Damon Phelps.
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