He was truly remarkable, and this loss hurts all of us.. Anyone with information on Fernandes whereabouts is asked to contact the Killeen Police Department at 254-526-TIPS (8477), Bell County Crime Stoppers at bellcountycrimestoppers.com, the Fort Hood Criminal Investigation Command (CID) office at 254-287-2722, the Fort Hood MP desk at 254-287-4001 or their local police department. The discovery in 2020 of the dismembered and burned remains of Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who disappeared on April 22, 2020, sparked outrage from central Texas to Washington. Robinson killed himself as authorities tried to arrest him. Ailiana Fernandes and other family members have traveled to Texas from Massachusetts to seek answers about Elder Fernandes disappearance. Guillens family and their attorney alleged that the missing soldier had told them that she had suffered sexual harassment at Fort Hood. Specialist Shelby Jones was a highly valued member of the Brave Rifles team, and his loss is profoundly felt by all of his friends and fellow troopers in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, regiment commander Col. Ralph Overland said. "[47], During the December8 Pentagon press conference McCarthy said that Guilln's murder "shocked our conscience and brought attention to deeper problems" at Fort Hood and across the Army more widely. And I want justice, and I want answers.. Army Sgt. What to Know About the Death of Vanessa Guillen, https://www.nytimes.com/article/vanessa-guillen-fort-hood.html. [2], Aguilar was arrested by Texas Rangers and held at the Bell County Jail. [15] On June 23, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, in whose district Guilln's family resides, met with Fort Hood officials to discuss the ongoing search. Fernandes, a native of the Republic of Cabo Verde, is a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, authorities said. Wedel last spoke to her son Aug. 19, 2019, when he called her asking for gas money, she told the Post. President Biden apparently thinks they are synonymous with election integrity. He has black hair and brown eyes. Aton, 22, died of his injuries Aug. 12 after he was hit by a car as he provided assistance at the scene of an accident in Killeen, the Military Times reported. [3] Guilln's family felt she disappeared under suspicious circumstances. FORT HOOD, Texas Fort Hood appears to be on the cusp of yet another tragedy as authorities search for the latest Army soldier to go missing from the base. Sawyer, 29, of Longview, Washington, was found dead March 5 at his home on the base. PVT Morta was a great trooper and this loss is felt by every member within our formation.. Fernandes is described as an African-American man standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 133 pounds. Ofelia Miramontez, a spokesperson for the Killeen Police Department, said the case has been exceptionally cleared, which she said means elements beyond the control of investigators have prevented the arrest and indictment of a suspect. Elder Fernandes safe a remains the top priority of the 1st Cavalry Division..We ask him to reach out to his leadership, his family, the local police or a nearby hospital or clinic so we can ensure he receives the care he needs. Additionally, his only known vehicle was located on base at his units parking lot.. Military officials have said foul play is not suspected in his disappearance. Four people, including the gunman, were killed while 14 additional people were injured; 12 by gunshot wounds. Command Sgt. (U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command). Fort Hood is the same Army base where Vanessa Guillen was murdered in April 2020, in a case that engrossed the nation. The punishments are the latest Army moves in response to Guillns disappearance and death. Wardrobe was reportedly romantically involved with Roys wife, the Herald reported. Specialist Guillen was born and raised in Houston with five siblings. From Texas Standard: Last year's murder of Pfc. Saber's death is among multiple incidents at the Texas base in recent years. Specialist Guillens case captured the attention of celebrities, lawmakers and other public figures including former President Trump, who met with her family at The White House. These two people had befriended my son, and the week before (the homicide) had been pretty much leeching off my son, Rosecrans father, Thomas Berg Sr., told Fox 7. The skeletal remains of Morales, 24, were found June 21 in a field near the base in Killeen, about 10 months after he was last seen. [43], On July30, 2020, Guillen's family met with President Donald Trump regarding her murder. He was a patriot who volunteered to serve our great country and we will always be grateful for his steadfast dedication to family, friends and fellow Soldiers. SPC Aaron David Robinson, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene on a street in Killeen. [20] The authorities said that more than 300 interviews and over 10,000 hours were spent investigating Guilln's disappearance. The Stallion family is truly devastated by the tragic loss of SPC Freddy Delacruz. SPC Jovino Jamel Roy, also 22, has been charged with murder in the case. He had been assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division since November 2018. Among the reports findings: Specialist Guillen was sexually harassed, but not by Specialist Robinson, and that he had also been accused of unrelated sexual harassment. On June 5, at a special court-martial convened at Fort Hood, a private (E-1) assigned to 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade was convicted by a military judge, contrary to his pleas, of one specification of larceny in violation of Article 121, UCMJ. Maj. Ryan McLane and I would like to express our deepest condolences to Anthonys family and friends. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, the news station reported. Guillen, 20, went missing April 22 in a parking lot at the base after her family said she complained of sexual harassment. A body believed to be the missing 23-year-old soldier was discovered hanging from a tree Aug. 25 in Temple, about 30 miles from the base. An apparent bullet hole was found in the back passenger door, the news station reported. On July 10, 2020, Ryan D. McCarthy, the secretary of the Army, ordered an investigation into Fort Hoods command culture after a year of violent deaths, suicides and complaints of sexual harassment on the military base. Disciplinary measures were also taken against soldiers and leaders assigned below brigade level, however the Army does not, as a matter of policy, "release the names of the battalion level and below commanders and leaders who received administrative action. Hernandezvargas, 24, was discovered dead Aug. 2 after he disappeared underwater while being pulled on an inner tube behind a motorboat at the same lake where Mortas body was recovered. This story has been shared 148,076 times. Tips can also be submitted anonymously on the Crime Stoppers website or at cid.army.mil/report-a-crime.html. Paul Brandon Norris, who - in the . On Nov. 5, 2009, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 people, including 10 military personnel, and injured 31 others in a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas. Fernandes and any other ongoing cases at Fort Hood.. By Marlene Lenthang October 13, 2021, 9:15 AM 2:25 On Location: February 24, 2023 Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. Rosecrans, 27, was found dead from gunshot wounds May 18 on the side of the road in Harker Heights, Texas three miles away from where his Jeep was discovered engulfed in flames. Aaron Robinson was the suspect in the murder of Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood. A 26-year-old Fort Hood soldier was found dead Saturday behind his barracks, according to military officials. The family of a Texas soldier who was sexually harassed and killed at a military base near Killeen in 2020 filed a lawsuit Friday seeking $35 million in damages from the U.S. government. According to Fox 7, police and firefighters found that the passenger seat in the soldiers Jeep was reclined all the way. Olivares girlfriend, Estrellita Hidalgo Falcon, 37, also of Killeen, is charged with hindering prosecution and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Additionally, soldiers have visited local hotels and hospitals throughout central Texas and continue to expand their search efforts.. The body of Morta, 26, was discovered July 17 after he was believed to have drowned in Stillhouse Hollow Lake, about 15 miles from the base. Ms. Aguilar pleaded guilty on Nov. 29 to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of false statement or representation. He said he believed she then left to go to the motor pool. [8], On July6, 2020, at city hall in Richmond, California, a memorial of candles along with tea lights spelling out Vanessa were displayed in front of a makeshift altar. A probe into the implementation of the bases Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, or SHARP, is ongoing. The incident is under investigation by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. [14] Multiple Fort Hood units, including 3CR, began searching the area within two weeks of her disappearance. In fact, when Georgia's Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill in 2021 requiring voter ID and strengthening rules against bribery and electioneering at the polls, the President condemned the law as "Jim Crow on steroids." Jones, 20, died March 1 after he was shot at a strip club in Killeen, several miles from the base, the Army Times reported. Elected in May 2021, incumbent Jessica Gonzalez is a director of sales. Crystal Bonvillian, Cox Media Group National Content Desk, Body of 3rd Fort Hood soldier found near base in less than month. Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 06:32, Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation, United States Attorney's Office Western District of Texas, "Grand jury indicts Cecily Aguilar on 11 counts in Vanessa Guillen murder trial", "Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death by fellow soldier, attorney says; suspect ID'd as Calumet City man", "Civilian charged in plot to dismember and hide remains of murdered Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen", "Pfc. [9] In early June, Guilln's mother told reporters she did not trust the Army's handling of the investigation and her attorney, Natalie Khawam,[17] said she believed the family was "being kept in the dark"[16] because few details had been released regarding the disappearance. It is unclear what started the altercation. When Morales remains were found, Wedel said was told her son decomposed in the field, with dust and debris covering his remains as they sank over time into the ground over time. In one of those two cases, the person charged with murder was an active-duty soldier based at Fort Hood. Authorities said a preliminary autopsy indicated his death, like that of Hernandezvargas, appeared to be from drowning. His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. She pleaded guilty in November and faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. [34] The mural portrays her with the flags of both the United States and Mexico, the latter due to her Mexican American ethnicity. Interest in the case has been recently rekindled by the Netflix documentary I Am Vanessa Guillen, released on Nov. 17, which examines her life and death and follows her familys journey for justice. Broadwater was subsequently assigned as deputy commander of V Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His death is being investigated as a homicide. by Lloyd Billingsley . A long-awaited U.S. Army investigation released in April determined she had been sexually harassed by a supervisor, but the incidents of harassment were not related to her murder. (U.S. Army), Information gathered from fellow soldiers indicates Sgt. Unlike Fernandes, Guillen had not reported her allegations to base officials. . Finding Sgt. Published October 12, 2021 9:28pm EDT. On July 2, a charge was brought against another soldier at Fort Hood, Aaron Robinson, who killed himself. The Thunder Battalion is deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of PVT Eric Hogan, said Lt. Col. Ronald Sprang, Commander, 2-12 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Hernandezvargas, 24, drowned Aug. 2 in a boating accident at Stillhouse Hollow Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir located about 15 miles from Fort Hood. Fernandes, who had reported sexual abuse prior to his. By Johnny Diaz,Maria Cramer and Christina Morales. A body believed to be the missing 23-year-old soldier was discovered hanging from a tree Aug. 25 in Temple, about 30 miles from the base. He was assigned to the 9th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division since May 2019. When they entered the unit, they found Delacruz, Cline and Allred dead. Hours after the grisly discovery, as U.S. Because his death occurred off-base, the Killeen Police Department is investigating his killing. [38][39], In 2022 the Park Place post office was renamed after Guilln. Prosecutors declined to tell Stars and Stripes why the grand jury failed to indict. A First Cavalry Division sergeant who shot and killed a protester in July 2020 at a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin is free on bond after he was indicted Thursday for murder and aggravated . They used my sons phone after they killed him to ask his friends for money for gas, Berg said. The Black Knight family is truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of PVT Mejhor Morta, Armstrong said in a news release. Elder Fernandes Army Sgt. Thanks for contacting us. Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan McLane and I would like to express our deepest regrets to the family and loved ones of PFC Brandon Rosecrans, Col. Kevin Capra, commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, said in a May 20 statement. Olivares girlfriend, Estrellita Hidalgo Falcon, 37, also of Killeen, is charged with hindering prosecution and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Investigators who searched her phone found that the last person she texted was Specialist Robinson. 24, 2021 KILLEEN, Texas Spc. If you cant say why he murdered her, you cant say he didnt sexually harass her, family attorney Natalie Khawam said. (U.S. Army, Bell County Jail). Jones entered the Army in May 2017 as a cavalry scout and had been assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment since August 2018, according to Fort Hood officials. Specialist Robinson later said he read her the serial numbers and gave her paperwork, according to court documents. At the request of law enforcement, Aguilar placed a controlled telephone call to Robinson, who said, "Baby, they found pieces", and texted Robinson multiple news articles, to which he never denied anything in response. We are deeply saddened by the loss of any member of our IRONHORSE team and we will mourn this loss as an organization, said Col. Michael Schoenfeldt, commander of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. They are the highest in most cases for sexual assault, harassment, murders, for our entire formation in the U.S. Army, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said during a visit to Fort Hood earlier this month, the military publication reported. Marshals and Killeen police officers closed in on a suspect, the man, an active duty junior soldier, turned a gun on himself and pulled the trigger. A memorial at her home was surrounded by angels and figures of the Virgin Mary, which Specialist Guillen wore on a gold necklace that she never removed. Olivares claimed the man had used his gun, a 9mm Ruger he said hed sold the unnamed person. Chris Swecker, Jonathan Harmon, Carrie Ricci, Queta Rodriguez and Jack White visited Fort Hood for 19 days between August and September and conducted 80 group interviews, which encompassed over . In September 2021, a warrant officer named Anthony Rivera was charged with the murder of two toddlers he'd adopted, both of whom died of blunt force trauma. Officials identified the soldier as 26-year-old Spc. Vanessa Guillen", "Foul play suspected in Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen's disappearance", "Vanessa Guillen search: Lawmaker suspects foul play in the disappearance of Texas soldier", "Fort Hood says they have found no connection with sexual harassment and Guillen's disappearance", "Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia hosts virtual update on Vanessa Guilln case", "She 'never made it out of the Army alive': Affidavit details killing of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen", "Remains of missing soldier Vanessa Guilln identified by Army, family says", "Vanessa Guillen killed with hammer and her body mutilated, affidavit says", "New court documents in Vanessa Guillen's case reveal possible motive for murder", "Public's Help Sought in Locating Fort Hood Soldier", "Army Senior Leaders Update Reporters on U.S. Army Response to COVID-19", https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/politics/vanessa-guillen-family-donald-trump/index.htmlM, "Army punishes 14 senior officers after murder and other deaths at Fort Hood", "Texas woman pleads guilty to role in Vanessa Guillen's death", "Houston artists pay tribute to Vanessa Guillen", "New mural pays tribute to Vanessa Guillen in her neighborhood", "Mayor Turner honors Vanessa Guillen with visit to mural", "Fort Hood unveils gate and plaque honoring Vanessa Guilln", "Fort Hood names gate after slain Spc. PFC Anthony Peak was a valuable member of this team and his loss is felt by his friends and the soldiers of the Saber Squadron and Greywolf Brigade. In December 2020, the Army announced14 senior leaders and enlisted personnel at Fort Hoodwere fired or suspended following an independent panel's review of the command climate and culture at the base. Updated Sep 1, 2020. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and purple fitness-type pants.. He was an important member of the battalion scout platoon and the battalion and his loss is deeply felt.. Aaron Robinson escape custody and kill himself. Vanessa Guilln's murder at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, last year exposed a pattern of violence and abuse against soldiers at the U.S. military's largest active-duty . An investigation is underway and police say foul play is not suspected. Maxwell Hockin. Aguilar is charged with federal crimes in connection with Guillen's April 22 death. Ivan Antonio Lopez was identified as the person responsible for the shooting incident, and is. [6] On November 29, 2022 Aguilar plead guilty to accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of making a false statement.[7]. Among the senior leaders disciplined were Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, former Deputy Commanding General of III Corps, and Col. Ralph Overland and Command Sgt. Army officials confirmed on Saturday that the sergeant had been the alleged victim of abusive sexual contact, NBC News reported. Families want answers. Hernandezvargas awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon. Spc. Military officials have said foul play is not suspected in his disappearance. KCEN-TV reported that Mortas colleagues remembered him Wednesday at a memorial service held on Fort Hood. Army CID officials said foul play was not suspected in Sawyers death but that an investigation was being conducted. On April 24, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command posted a news release asking for the publics help in finding her.

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