Specialist Aaron David Robinson, Gregory Wedel-Morales, Private Mejhor Morta, Specialist Francisco Gilberto Hernandez-Vargas, Private First Class Brandon Scott Rosecrans, Private First Class Freddy Delacruz Jr, Specialist Christopher Wayne Sawyer and Specialist Shelby Tyler Jones were all found dead at Fort Hood this year. Brautigam said that unit leaders have been in contact with the family daily to provide comfort and updates as they become available. Fernandes' aunt told ABC News the Army hasn't provided much helpful information. Gore has since been discharged from the Army. [8], The partial remains at Leon River site was so brutally dismembered and burned that investigators were unable to use dental records to make any identification,[18] yet Army investigators positively identified the remains as Vanessa Guilln, says The Washington Post. 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. What Happens To It Now? Her family says she was the target of sexual harassment. Despite detecting an odor of decomposition, no remains were found, according to court documents. The Army just now says that there is foul play in the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen. 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. It's right up there as most hated place to be posted. The FDA Has Officially Approved Pfizers COVID Vaccine. 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. On Wednesday, his mother traveled from her home in Boston to Texas to search for her son. 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. Robinson consented to a search of his cellphone records, which showed that on the day Guillen went missing that he made several calls to his girlfriend, Aguilar, throughout the day into the early morning hours of April 23, according to court documents. [5] Wedel was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance, the Army said. He has not been seen or heard from family members since Monday, August 17, according to the Killeen Police Department. Jennifer Sewell, a soldier who's been missing since last Thursday. Despite the claims that officials are being fired for failing to prevent violence at the base, former military personnel on Twitter have concerns about how the system works. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales went missing in 2019 while driving in Killeen, Texas. All of this is expected to trigger further investigations, which could lead to additional punishments for those found responsible. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Isaiah Gore, 21, and Denerio Williams, 22, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2021, another co-conspirator Ivory Palmer, 21, pleaded guilty Jan. 10. Four other soldiers who went missing are: SpcVanessa Guillen; Pvt. 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. [7], Army Inspector General investigation is assessing whether the climate fostered by Fort Hood commanders is supportive of reporting incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Others commented that firing or suspending officers and soldiers is not the same as charging them and righting the harm theyve allowed to take place. There have been a slew of mysterious fatalities this year but how many Ford Hood soldiers have gone missing? He was a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The army said a female soldier went AWOL a couple months ago. Fernandes' older brother, Elton Fernandes, said that he spoke to him about the alleged incident, asking if it was true. A Texas man, Brandon Michael Olivares, was recently arrested and charged for Rosecrans' murder. Five were murdered. Ninety-three of them were ultimately declared deserters, and of those, 15 remain unaccounted for. It was confirmed by Fort Hood, a military base in Killeen, Texas, later in the afternoon. A lock ( The numbers are distressing. Sgt. [2], In McQueens statementhe knew a man who would attend a party and have sex and that he believed [they] could make money there and a lot of it. He added, We specifically talked about swinger parties, stripper parties.[3], Part of the Killeen, Texas sex trafficking scandal, Subterranean training at West Fort Hood, 2014 in Night Vision. Photo: Sergio Flores/Getty Images. Windows 10 is a Tool to Spy on Everything You Do, Maximum building height in Western Europe, FORT HOOD HAS DECLARED WAR ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Assistant U.S. The body of Vanessa Guillen, 20,was found in a shallow grave near where she vanished in April. Aaron Robinson was a suspect in the disappearance of Venessa Guilln. It definitely seems like something is up. By bringing in outside consultant civillians, it (1) allows the matter to be taken outside of Army hands,[10] (2) prolongs a proper military investigation, and (3) enables a potential coverup of a sexual assault ring involving high level officers. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. 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. Guillen was so badly beaten, she had to be identified through strains of her hair. His family members have publicly questioned the base's narrative that he left on his own volition. Fort Hood investigators said on their Facebook page that they "have no credible information or report that Guillen was sexually assaulted.". [16] The remains were found in a shallow grave, and search operations were suspended pending identification, said Texas EquuSearch. In late June, the partial remains of missing 20-year-old Fort Hood soldier Pfc. Ft Hood is the largest military base IN THE WORLD. Brandon Scott Rosecrans, 27, was found shot to death and his vehicle set on fire in May. "Our worst nightmare has happened," Khawam said. 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. Freddy Delacruz with Chuck Norris in 2019. 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. When a Soldier Goes Missing. Mejhor Morta, a 26-year-old Fort Hood soldier, was found dead on July 17 in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, government officials and local police said. 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. 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. A federal magistrate judge denied Cecily Aguilar bail after prosecutors revealed she expressed her desires to flee the country. Vanessa Guillen. All are active duty soldiers with the U.S. Army. Aguilar is expected in federal court in Waco, Texas, for arraignment on July 6. 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. [13], Vanessa Guilln, missing since 22 April 2020, Although praised by officials,[13] unique facilities like Killeen Base/West Fort Hood enables clandestine activities, as indicated by other reports as early as 1979. CNN The body of a missing Fort Hood soldier has been found. ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death on Army base, family attorney says, Vanessa Guillen: Timeline offers look at tragedy and legacy of Ft. Lock [10], US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and civilian law enforcement are investigating Guillen's disappearance. People were showing up for P.T. "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 main suspect in her disappearance, another soldier, killed himself as investigators confronted him. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Updated on: June 3, 2016 / 10:45 PM / CBS/AP. Guillen was the third service member from the base to be found dead this summer. Officials described Sewell as an African American woman with brown hair and brown eyes who is 5-foot-5. The suspects allegedly poured fresh concrete mix on the remains to create a "homemade body vault" where they then covered it in rocks, officials said. The Commander at Fort Hood, Lt. General Pat White, will not face any administrative action. 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. Subterranean tunnelling into the mountainside continued into 1961. Will It Matter To Anti-Vaxxers? Sgt. I also know and understand that fear Vanessa must have felt.". You dont get fired. either didn't care or was covering up her murder. Both are currently awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaa. You dont hear anything about Greg. The criminal complaint released later Thursday said the civilian arrested in the Guillen case is Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, Texas, near Fort Hood. FORT HOOD, Texas (FOX 44) UPDATE: III Corps and Fort Hood reports that PVT Brendan Lush has been found safe and was being returned to his unit with the assistance of law enforcement officials. Warning: Tampering with sensitive contents on this page may constitute a violation of law, and may be subject to world-wide-web service disconnect. 5:11 PM EDT, Sun October 10, 2021. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. As investigators searched for Guillen's body amid her disappearance, multiple other soldiers' bodies were recovered. 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. McCarthy has also ordered a new Army policy that will amend how officials deal with missing soldiers. [21], Fox 44 reached out to Fort Hoods Public Affairs office to get an update on their current investigations involving the deaths of the soldiers and received no response. While I never saw anything regarding human trafficking I am intrigued by this statement: Broadway, the post spokesman, said 74 GIs had gone absent without leave since 2020 and that 53 of them had returned to duty. The 20-year-old's family drove to Washington, D.C. from Texas to demand a Congressional investigation into her disappearance and their assertion that she was sexually assaulted, and ultimately. Pvt. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 12 Fort Hood soldiers who have vanished, died, or, in one case, turned up dead after going missing last year. 56, WARNING:FORT HOOD HAS DECLARED WAR ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. So I'm trying to see for when the lawyer gets in contact with them and more higher people, they will be able to give us some information, because they know," she said. Vanessa Guillen were discovered in a shallow grave near the Leon River in rural Bell County. 1000 Louisiana, Ste. Aguilar later recognized Guillen . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, died by suicide, and that a second suspect, a woman, had been arrested, identified Robinson as the deceased suspect, U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Texas. Gregory Wedel-Morales, 23, who had been missing since August of 2019, was found in . The family said it was foul play repeatedly. What this means: Please keep any "meta" discussion directed at specific users, mods, or r/conspiracy in general in this comment chain only. Two Mexican men and a U.S. citizen have admitted to their roles in an alien smuggling conspiracy which resulted in death, A 40-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting undocumented aliens, A 24-year-old Laredo resident has been sent to prison for conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens resulting in death, Southern District of Texas Robinson had joined the Army in October 2017 and was trained as a combat engineer. The news was first announced by the family's attorney Natalie Khawam on Wednesday. He was reported missing by his family, who have not heard from him since Aug. 17. Copyright 2022 KWTX. Ft. But the investigation into her disappearance uncovers more than anyone bargained for - secrets, lies, and a system that failed to protect the people within it. According to reports, she was bludgeoned to death by fellow soldier Aaron Robinson, who then killed himself in July as police were trying to arrest him. Investigators said he likely drowned, though no foul play is suspected. Its super sketchy. 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, a Fort Hood soldier who went missing in April and whose remains were identified in July. Several social media groups had been raising awareness about the soldiers disappearance for days before the Army post acknowledged the disappearance Sunday evening. Fernandes' disappearance comes after a difficult month for Fort Hood. Above all else, we respect everyone's opinions and ALL religious beliefs and creeds. Later, as local police and federal marshals closed in on Robinson, he died by suicide. 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. These actions come in the aftermath of many incidents tied to Fort Hood this year including 26 soldiers who died by suicide, homicide, or other brutality. Can you elaborate more on the bush highway? At the time, neither Robinson nor Aguilar were identified. 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. "So were going to look into it very powerfully, the president said. "We are seeking your help in locating Sgt. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/army-suspects-foul-play-disappearance-fort-hood-soldier-vanessa-guillen-n1231928/, https://heavy.com/news/2020/06/foul-play-suspected-after-greg-morales-found-dead/, https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/05/21/fort-hood-soldier-found-shot-dead-near-burning-jeep/. The 24-year-old's remains were found on June 21 in a. 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. Updates will be provided when the investigation is complete, he added. The sergeant has not yet been identified. Guillens family met with President Donald Trump this month and he promised to deliver justice for the Army soldier who was killed in April. Officials within Vanessa Guillen's unit become aware she's missing, according to court documents. 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. Mejhor Morta, 26, was found unresponsive in the vicinity of Stillhouse Lake, according to Army officials, The body of Pvt Gregory Scott Morales, 24, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, was found Friday in a field after officials at nearby Fort Hood received a tip, Fort Hood officials said Spc Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas' body was recovered after a boating accident, Vanessa Guillen's mom is seen here with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office (Reuters), Pfc. They said there was no indication of foul play. Sewell was last seen leaving her barracks around 4 p.m. (5 p.m. The hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen began circulating on Twitter, and women with a history in the military have come forward to share their own stories of sexual assault. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? **The conspiracy subreddit is a thinking ground. Elder Fernandes was reported missing by family on Wednesday, according to police. A private first class when she disappeared, she was promoted to specialist effective July 1, based on time in service, according to Fort Hood. Fernandes also had a new apartment waiting to be moved into with rent and utilities paid, but he never picked up the key, according to his aunt and mother. 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. 110 Stat. I feel like soldiers going missing should be a much bigger deal than what it is now. 2023 Cable News Network. Fernandes who is originally from Massachusetts is a Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear specialist at Fort Hood. On July 30, Pea wrote a social media post saying there would be an active shooter at the base, according to an affidavit obtained by KXAN. Have you had any close calls or times when you had to nope the fuck out of there? Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 30-month-term of imprisonment for Gore, while Williams received 24 months. Specialist Guillen was reported missing from Fort Hood in April 2020, and her remains were found on June 30, 2020. FYOHNA and RapGodJ audio only. His death followed ten other soldiers includingVanessa Guillen, whoseremains were found months after she went missing. About two weeks before that, on July 1, human remains were discovered near Fort Hood and subsequently identified as Guillen. 22, was charged on July 2 with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence . [10], Garcia said it would be up to Defense Secretary Mark Esper "to make sure that the Department of Defense does its job, and does a full independent investigation. Reward Increased: Missing Fort Hood Soldier . You get rank reduction, removed from your leadership role, & possibly moved to another unit, said one user in response to the news. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Shady for sure. Robinson told investigators that he only left the house once, to go back to the base to log in on a computer to enroll in training, court documents show. 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. 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]. "On Sunday, he spoke with his mom, promising that he will call on Monday from his phone to give us more information," said Isabel Fernandes. Published Gabbard said she knows "personally the . Soldiers were assaulted, beaten, robbed. "And there's a lot more that I don't know; only Elder will be able to tell us, when we find him.". Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales' death, and the Army is offering a $25,000 reward for information. The military base's 1st Cavalry Division has asked for public help in locating the 23-year-old specialist. 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.. 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. According to Khawam, Fernandes was sexually assaulted by his sergeant, then "bullied and hazed for reporting it.". FORT HOOD, Texas -- Recovery teams have located the bodies of four Army soldiers who went missing when their truck overturned in a fast-flowing . The Army Criminal Investigation Division has yet to independently confirm the identification. His car was also found burned nearby. Should Wealthy Countries Give COVID Booster Shots When Other Countries Still Dont Have Vaccines. Why Kamala Harris Feels Optimistic About The Future Of Abortion Rights, What Abortion Rights Will Look Like in Your State, After the Uvalde Shooting, We Need Gun Control Not More Border Security, How To Help Those Affected By The Texas School Shooting. The prolonging process, in a sizable coverup, is given in the following report: Although authorities said there is no connection between the two cases of Wedel-Morales and Guillen, Atlantas Cold Case Investigative Research Institute founder, Sheryl McCollum, disagrees, who maintains that the soldiers deaths are linked. According to McCarthy, Fort Hood has one of the highest rates of murder, sexual assault, and harassment in the Army. Add to that, Killeen is basically a crime-ridden ghetto surrounding the post. The body of another Fort Hood soldier, Pvt. Assistant district attorney from Williamson County suspended after DWI wreck in Hewitt, Austin police looking for teen mom who ran away from state facility with newborn son, Tornadic weather conditions made it difficult for fire crews to extinguish house that caught fire after being struck by lightning, New non-profit coming to Bell County in fight against homelessness, Change was like night and day: Mother testifies in retrial of ex-Waco day care owner charged in childs overdose death. In addition to these horrifying deaths, other incidents at Fort Hood this year included the death of Sgt. 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. Army officials said that one suspect in the case killed himself, and another was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Murder suspect Aaron Robinson, 20, took his own life after fleeing the base. [13], 2-foot-thick concrete walls are dug nearly 1,000 feet into the hillside. Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam, a 1st Cavalry Division public affairs officer, said last week that Fernandes had previously transferred units after reporting sexual abuse, and that an investigation into the allegation remained open.