He remembered helping her with weightlifting and she helped him work on squats and deadlifts. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide when authorities made contact with him, according to the Army. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. It said it was gonna rain.". ", Hightower told Landy that Vanessa was missing. 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. Because she is a civilian in the custody of local authorities, Army CID will not be releasing any further information concerning her or her status at this time, Phelps said, adding that no organization had yet been assigned to the womans case nor was anyone given the authority to release her name. Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. The two suspects returned to the site with hairnets and gloves on April 26, according to cell phone records. Robinson and Guillen were both members of the 3rd Cavalry Regiments engineer squadron, though they were assigned to different troops. They then placed the remains back in the three holes with the concrete, the complaint alleged. In 2020, he had 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. ", Landy said Robinson acted "upset" that everybody kept "blowing up his phone.". Aguilar's lawyers have filed a motion to throw out the entire case and another motion to suppress the statements officers say she made. On May 18, nearly a month after Vanessa Guillen's disappearance, investigators spoke to two witnesses who said they saw Robinson exiting the arms room on April 22 with Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing from the Texas post since April. Robinson, who had been in the Army since 2017, worked in the same Regimental Engineer Squadron as Guillen. Company, 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the time Guillen, a fellow 3rd Cavalry soldier, disappeared April 22. Investigators spoke to over 300 soldiers in Vanessa Guillen's unit, including Hightower. Efflandt on Thursday added that he personally invited a team to the post earlier in the week to inspect its Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, or SHARP. Guillen, a 20-year-old Houston native who received her rank of specialist on Wednesday, was last seen between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 22 in the parking lot of the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters where she worked at Fort Hood, officials said. Just why?" As an infant, Vanessa wasintubated,clinging to life at a hospital. Fort Hood officials suspected foul play in the disappearances of both Morales and Guillen, but said they did not believe they were linked. Vanessa Guillen. ", 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. 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. Then, he raced out of the room. 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). And the full story is here: https://t.co/LWqdPnIAQn pic.twitter.com/6VDFl3iOLG, KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) August 13, 2022, From October 1, 2019, to April 22, 2020, SPC, documents said. 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. Aaron David Robinson, 20, died by suicide Wednesday morning as investigators were closing in. Robinson allegedly killed Guillen with a hammer in the army base's armory in April 2020. Dismembered human remains believed to be Guillen's were found in a shallow grave about 30 miles east of the Fort Hood base this week. Robinson went missing June 30. The Guillens pleas for help spread nationally after #IAmVanessaGuillen went viral on social media this month. This pretty much gave an instant alibi to the suspect. Guillen received a posthumous promotion from Private First Class to Specialist. 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.. Hightower planned to go hiking with Guillen on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, the day she went missing. Why? 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. Robinson fatally shot himself July 1 when authorities confronted him off post,Killeen policesaid. This week the 9th Circuit held that sexual assault is not incident to service, and therefore the Feres Doctrine should not apply to service members who are sexually assaulted.. Aaron David Robinson, another soldier at Fort Hood, allegedly attacked Guillen, per the Guillen family attorney. Killeen Police have body camera video and dashcam video from the incident but none of it has been released. Aguilar was again interviewed on the night of June 30 and admitted that Robinson told her on April 22 that he struck a female soldier in the head with a hammer multiple times inside the armory. "Our agents are working very closely with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner to expedite identification of the remains," Phelps 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. She said Army investigators rarely contacted the family before releasing information. His death is still under investigation. Trump said he would help her family with funeral expenses and directed the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate what happened to Guillen. "Sometimes we'll go run, like, 3 miles or a few miles. "So he can murder her but he wouldn't sexually harass her. And this time they didn't tell me, 'It's not her.'" Emailus. Secretary of the Army where is it? she said. Aguilar has been charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Nothing. According to court records, Robinson admitted to Aguilar that he moved Guillens body from Fort Hood to a remote site in Bell County. A review of the call logs showed Robinson contacted Aguilar multiple times on the night Guillen disappeared. During a news conference, Army Criminal Investigation Command Special Agent Damon Phelps named the now-deceased soldier as Spc. "That's the regiment Vanessa used to work, and everyone that passes through that gate will see my sister's name, my sister's picture and remind themselves about how sexual harassment and assault has to be taken seriously, and about the way she was murdered because no one deserves that.". Company, 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the time Guillen, a fellow 3rd Cavalry soldier, disappeared April 22. pic.twitter.com/mWwjiJx4ly. Aaron David Robinson. At a news conference Thursday, the Army identified the soldier suspected in Guillens disappearance as Aaron David Robinson. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Investigators spoke to Robinson again and he let them search his phone. 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. But justice will be done in the name of Jesus and Holy Mary. ", Mayra Guillen said she "couldn't believe it.". Later, the world learned that she had told her mother she was sexually harassed on the base. 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. Nicole Acevedo is a reporter for NBC News Digital. The family of a slain U.S. Army soldier is suing the Department of the Army, saying authorities failed to protect her from her killer. 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. Guillen, 20, were found near the Leon River in Bell County in late June, Civilian searcher says Army overlooked evidence after Vanessa Guillen's death. Robinson died by suicide Earlier Thursday, Phelps said that Robinson died by suicide early Wednesday after fleeing Fort Hood the night before. Authorities on Thursday said 20-year-old Spc. Guillens sister, Mayra, previously told NBC's "Dateline" that Guillen never identified the person who allegedly harassed her and never reported the incidents to the Armys sexual harassment and prevention program. They attempted to burn the body, before placing the remains in three separate holes. Investigators previously had said they suspected foul play related to her disappearance. The calls went as late as 3:30 a.m. the next morning and continued the next day. Authorities on Thursday said 20-year-old Spc. A Fort Hood soldier who authorities identified earlier Thursday as another suspect in Guillen's disappearance, E-4 Specialist Aaron David Robinson, allegedly told Aguilar was interviewed on June 19. "I was astonished that they had so much information and details. She's no longer here.' The Guillen sisters in unison agreed that the investigators explanation was wrong. The Guillen family's lawyer is pushing for the evidence to be published to see if any more information could be gleaned from Robinson's final moments. She needs to be brought to justice.. Cruz said he thinks often about his late fiance. She is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Waco early next week. On June 18, two months after Vanessa Guillen vanished, authorities found skeletal remains close to the base in Killeen. The Chief of Staff of the Army recently met with the Guilln family.. U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will introduce legislation on the House floor next week. 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. Investigators kept Robinson under watch in a conference room for hours at Fort Hood but didn't tell him why. Khawam said she was told a third suspect was detained. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Khawam earlier this week said a man at Fort Hood had walked in on Guillen while she was showering naked. You know how they say no one is perfect? Lupe asked. We are going to love each other all our lives. I Am Vanessa Guillen: Everything You Need to Know - Netflix 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. Aguilar helped law enforcement locate Robinson in the city of Killeen. "I was like, 'About time they said it,'" Cruz said. He was questioned within two days of the criminal investigationHe was questioned very early on in this process.". LaBoeuf revealed in an interview with "20/20" that she was "sexually harassed on two separate occasions by the same soldier" -- someone who was her superior. 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. WebAaron David Robinson, 20, is a victim of a massive sex trafficking scandal in Killeen, Texas, beyond the borders. Watch the full story on "20/20" TONIGHT at 9 p.m. Lupe Guilllen, 16, Vanessas sister, said the fight is not over until the Army stops telling lies and gives the family answers. 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.. We keep demanding a congressional investigation! Army investigators have said theres no evidence Robinson harassed her. Contractors discovered the remains near the Leon River on June 30, 2020, authorities said. They just kept trying to pin it on me or Landy," Hightower said. "The criminal investigation has not found any connection between sexual harassment and Vanessa's disappearance," Maj. Scott Efflandt, deputy commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood, said. 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. Guillen's Army friends weren't the only ones worried about her disappearance.
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