Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who went missing in April and whose remains were identified in July. Prosecutors in 2014 said Gregory McQueen ran a prostitution ring at Fort Hood for a month or two that took advantage of cash-strapped female soldiers and connected them with higher-ranking officers. Robinson then drove Aguilar to the Leon River, where he opened the box to reveal Guillen's body, court records show. Military officials said at a press conference that Robinson was not Guillen's superior and that during their investigation they didn't find evidence of sexual harassment to confirm her family's accusations. Investigators said he likely drowned, though no foul play is suspected. [4], Phone records led investigators to suspects in Vanessa Guillen's disappearance, Mother of missing soldier Vanessa Guillen 'I want my daughter alive! The family said it was foul play repeatedly. . . 2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales went missing in 2019 while driving in Killeen, Texas. 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. Elder Fernandes, 23, is pictured in a poster released by Fort Hood in Texas on Aug. 20, 2020. We are exceedingly thankful for the communitys support and will issue another statement shortly, officials on post said in a Facebook post. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. On Wednesday, his mother traveled from her home in Boston to Texas to search for her son. Add to that, Killeen is basically a crime-ridden ghetto surrounding the post. [20], Spc. He was reported by US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) to have commited suicide "As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself. [10] Her car keys, room key, identification card and wallet were found in an armory room where she was working that day.[8], CID told the Guilln family that Vanessa was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked, and Her body was transported from the military installation by her killer,[10], The investigation into Guilln's disappearance is separate from another into her family's claim that she was sexually harassed. 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 Trump, who met withGuillensmom, dad, two sisters, and family lawyer in theOval Office, said: Well get to the bottom of it.. [11], On 15 June 1963,[12] Site Baker was renamed Killeen Base and turned over to the US Army. Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 30-month-term of imprisonment for Gore, while Williams received 24 months. Vanessa Guillen. [11] The secret project was classified as an underground weapons storage area,[12] where weapons were stored in reinforced concrete and steel bunkers. Several social media groups had been raising awareness about the soldiers disappearance for days before the Army post acknowledged the disappearance Sunday evening. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Plus family and friends and businesses and such. Her family says she was the target of sexual harassment. [10] He held the rank of Specialist at the time of his death. Missing Army Sgt. There is widespread public misunderstanding of what happens when a Soldier . ANOTHER Fort Hood soldier has gone missing as the base has been rocked by numerous deaths over the past year. **, Press J to jump to the feed. "[8], 3rd Combined Arms Battalion conducting subterranean training in West Fort Hood, 2008, In 1947, Armed Forces Special Weapons Command constructed an underground installation built near Killeen, Texas, called Site Baker. 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. Texas authorities are looking into allegations that Vanessa was sexually harassed before she disappeared. Specialist Cole Jakob Aton was the most recent death,after he was hit by a car and died on August 12. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Elder Fernandes went missing just days after the 11th death at Fort Hood military base. Fort Hood has been in the spotlight because of other missing soldiers, particularly Spc. All are active duty soldiers with the U.S. Army. His family members have publicly questioned the base's narrative that he left on his own volition. Fernandes' aunt told ABC News the Army hasn't provided much helpful information. In addition to these horrifying deaths, other incidents at Fort Hood this year included the death of Sgt. The Conspiracy Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Venessa Guillen and Aaron Robinson were co-workers, but were located in different buildings; he was not in her line of command. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Fernandes' disappearance comes after a difficult month for Fort Hood. "She was afraid to report it. Vanessa Guilln, the Fort Hood soldier who has been missing since late April, was murdered and dismembered by a fellow soldier, a woman alleged in a criminal complaint obtained by CBS. **The conspiracy subreddit is a thinking ground. Oppongagyare later admitted Gore recruited them to pick the aliens up from McAllen and drive them to San Antonio. The soldiers leadership team reportedly remained in consistent communications with his mother throughout the search, the post said. Ft Hood is the largest military base IN THE WORLD. 21 of them unaccounted for? Quotas in recruiting(I used to be 1) are about as fluid as it comes. Secretary of the Army announces missing Soldier policy, forms People First Task Force to implement Fort Hood Independent Review Committee (FHIRC) recommendations By U.S. Army December 8, 2020 . I also wish to contest that they arent meeting quotas. Prior to her disappearance, Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. The investigation began June 13, 2021. The Guillen family created social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to call attention to Vanessa's sexual assault allegation and disappearance. I feel like soldiers going missing should be a much bigger deal than what it is now. Sewell was last seen leaving her barracks around 4 p.m. (5 p.m. McCarthy has also ordered a new Army policy that will amend how officials deal with missing soldiers. [8] The discovery was made after U.S. Army investigators supposedly received a tip directing them to the location of the body, officials said. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. His disappearance comes days after the 11th death at the Texas base this year. Robinson had joined the Army in October 2017 and was trained as a combat engineer. ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report. Elder Fernandes, a 23-year-old chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) specialist assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, has not been heard from by his family since Sunday, prompting them to report him missing three days later, according to a statement from the Killeen Police Department on Thursday and comments made by family members to ABC News Friday. ** That is crazy. Fernandes was last seen wearing a black Army T-shirt and shorts with black, orange and yellow athletic shoes. Isaiah Gore, 21, and Denerio Williams, 22, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2021, another co-conspirator Ivory Palmer, 21, pleaded guilty Jan. 10. The disappearance came amid a pending sexual harassment investigation. "And I am really sorry that I was not able to provide them the information sufficient to reduce their suffering," Major Gen. Scott Efflandt, deputy commanding general of III Corps at Fort Hood, said at a news conference. Respect other views and opinions, and keep an open mind. Investigators began to search near the Leon River, more than 20 miles away from Fort Hood. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. "And there's a lot more that I don't know; only Elder will be able to tell us, when we find him.". Aaron David Robinson, 20, African American combat engineer, went missing from his Fort Hood post on June 30. Updated on: June 3, 2016 / 10:45 PM / CBS/AP. FORT HOOD, Texas -- Recovery teams have located the bodies of four Army soldiers who went missing when their truck overturned in a fast-flowing . During a bond hearing federal prosecutor Mark Frazier told the judge that Aguilar made phone calls from jail where she told the person on the line that she had access to $5,000 to leave the country. The sergeant has not yet been identified. Results from the investigation will be released in October. Most notably, Guilln went missing for almost two months in the beginning of the year before her remains were found and it was declared that she had been murdered. All of this is expected to trigger further investigations, which could lead to additional punishments for those found responsible. You dont hear anything about Greg. According to Khawam, Fernandes was sexually assaulted by his sergeant, then "bullied and hazed for reporting it.". A suspect in the case, 20-year-old Army specialist Aaron Robinson, died by suicide as officials closed in on him. 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. . 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. Gregory Wedel-Morales missing since 2019, Pvt. About two weeks before that, on July 1, human remains were discovered near Fort Hood and subsequently identified as Guillen. There's no reason why a young beautiful girl who joined the Army, to honorably serve our country, should be in a shallow grave near on our own turf. "I guess the police is helping, but the Army's not so much," she said. At some point, her family says she confided in her two sisters, Lupe and Mayra, that she was having problems while posted at Fort Hood, the sprawling Army base outside of Killeen, Texas. 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 base said in a statement on Friday that Fernandes was last seen by members of his unit at a residence in Killeen, Texas. Isaiah Gore, 21, and Denerio Williams, 22, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2021, another co-conspirator Ivory Palmer, 21, pleaded guilty Jan. 10. 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. You get rank reduction, removed from your leadership role, & possibly moved to another unit, said one user in response to the news. But their contact ended abruptly, according to his aunt. [10], US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and civilian law enforcement are investigating Guillen's disappearance. Fernandes, who was born in Cape Verde in West Africa, joined the Army in Sept. 2016. Brandon Scott Rosecrans, 27, was found shot to death and his vehicle set on fire in May. 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. Pfc. 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. I'm surprised there isn't more that happens to the soldiers. Prior to this year, there were 38 deaths at Fort Hood in 2019, including 17 deaths by suicide; in 2018, there were a total of 28 deaths, with 16 deaths by suicide. hide caption. [12], More than 90 feet[13] below the mountain top,[12] tunnel corridors stretch 20 feet wide with 30-foot ceilings big enough for vehicles to travel the tunnels. ET . Fort Hood said Fernandes, a native of Brockton, Mass., was found deceased near Lake Polk in Temple, Texas, about 30 miles from the base. Investigators then found unidentified human remains about 20 miles away from the base, near the area investigators previously checked, according to court documents. Vanessa Guillen, 20, has been missing from her unit since April 22, 2020, according to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. They deal meth out of there to the people they want to run MKultra on. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. [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. Lock The Pentagon's latest report on sex-related crimes in the military showed a 3% increase in the number of sexual assaults reported in the 2019 fiscal year -- 6,236 compared with 6,053 a year earlier. Nothing about Brandon. Aguilar faces one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales' death, and the Army is offering a $25,000 reward for information. 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. His girlfriend Cecily Ann Aguilar, 22, was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. 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. The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Who Knew? For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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/. Murder suspect Aaron Robinson, 20, took his own life after fleeing the base. Interspersed throughout the complex are rooms of various sizes that are still equipped with steel rails for overhead cranes. Online there was a group of young teens bragging about breaking into houses of soldiers. The murders include US solders and civilians who were about to go public with knowledge of the underground network. Discovery Company. "It was an ongoing investigation for two months that will never get closure," his mother said. "He came and told me 'yes,' but not to worry about it because he's taking care of it," Elton said. Authorities further confirmed that Gore actively recruited people to pick up undocumented aliens. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/05/21/fort-hood-soldier-found-shot-dead-near-burning-jeep/. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2300 He was reported missing by his family, who have not heard from him since Aug. 17. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. The base is the Army's Premier Installation to train and deploy heavy forces. Vanessa Guilln, 20, whose remains were found after extensive national attention. Her sisters said Guillen, 20, told them and fellow soldiers that she was being sexually harassed by a superior and was fearful of reporting the incident because of potential retaliation. She reported it to her family. "We are heartbroken for Elder Fernandes' family and sickened by this tragedy that has happened too many times at Fort Hood," she said, alluding to a string of recent deaths and disappearances involving soldiers at the base. Sgt. What this means: Please keep any "meta" discussion directed at specific users, mods, or r/conspiracy in general in this comment chain only. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? I know that there have been shootings on Fort Hood but some people say that theres a big sex trafficking circle going on there. [5] Wedel was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance, the Army said. "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. Elder Fernandes was reported missing by family on Wednesday, according to police. [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. Mejhor Morta, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, was found in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake around 20 minutes from Fort Hood military base inTexason July 17. 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. Judge Marmolejo also emphasized that everyone involved in the scheme knew that wearing a uniform would assist in evading detection or arrest. A Warner Bros. Updated: May 16, 2022 / 07:13 AM CDT. What Happened At Fort Hood That Led To 14 Firings? Its just nothing. ABC News' Abby Cruz contributed to this report. Vanessa's older sister, 22-year-old Mayra, started an online fundraiser to cover the cost of a private investigator and an attorney. Before Guilln went missing, she told her family that she was being sexually harassed by one of her sergeants at Fort Hood, according to a website her family set up to promote the search. Thirteen killed themselves. Fort Hood investigators said on their Facebook page that they "have no credible information or report that Guillen was sexually assaulted.". Officials at Fort Hood in Texas are searching for Pfc. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, Fort Hood soldiers sentenced for role in alien smuggling conspiracy, Three men admit to fatal smuggling event in Mission, Texan sentenced for transporting people in trunk, Fort Hood Soldiers Sentenced For Role In Alien Smuggling Conspiracy. 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. The familiy conveyed to Attorney Natalie Khawam, that Guilln may have planned to file a harassment complaint, but perhaps the assailant had become enraged if she threatened to report him. Updates will be provided when the investigation is complete, he added. Is that what it takes? Shady for sure. 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. A private first class when she disappeared, she was promoted to specialist effective July 1, based on time in service, according to Fort Hood. Khawam announced at the press conference, attended by veterans including Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, that she's planning to propose legislation to protect U.S. military soldiers from sexual harassment and sexual assault. 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. Khawam also represents the family of Spc. Later, as local police and federal marshals closed in on Robinson, he died by suicide. Fernandes' older brother, Elton Fernandes, said that he spoke to him about the alleged incident, asking if it was true. Vanessa Guillen were discovered in a shallow grave near the Leon River in rural Bell County. Posted: May 16, 2022 / 07:12 AM CDT. Tipsters are asked to contact Fort Hood military police at 254-288-1170 or U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at 254-287-2722. ABC News has reached out to Army CID for comment. The Army did not give the reason for the hospitalization, citing patient confidentiality rules. The circumstances of related deaths have exposed an underground human sex trafficking ring in Killian, Texas, with West Fort Hood as the hub. mother, Gloria, wants US Congress to investigate Fort Hood's handling of her daughter's disappearance. 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. 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. You dont get fired. The body of missing Fort Hood soldier Elder Fernandes was found on Tuesday night, more than one week after the 23-year-old sergeant was last seen. Khawam announced at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol that a suspect tied to Guillen's disappearance died by suicide, and that a second suspect, a woman, had been arrested. Officials described Sewell as an African American woman with brown hair and brown eyes who is 5-foot-5. "We are at a loss for words.". Plenty, plenty, plenty of fucked up shit goes down there on the regular. 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. "I can't get access to any information, the Army is not giving any information to no one. Family attorney Natalie Kwaham said she was beaten so badly that officials had trouble using dental records to identify her since her teeth were smashed up. My friends grandma lives out there right in between the base and the prison crwzy stuff. 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. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Guillen was the third service member from the base to be found dead this summer. She said at a press conference that she learned his body had been found on Tuesday night. Sewell was last seen leaving her barracks around 4 p.m. (5 p.m. Specialist Guillen was reported missing from Fort Hood in April 2020, and her remains were found on June 30, 2020. The FDA Has Officially Approved Pfizers COVID Vaccine. The disappearance came a year after the disappearance of Pfc . His mother and aunt, Isabel Fernandes, told ABC News that they spoke to him on the phone several times while he was at the hospital, but he did not reveal much as to why he was there. [13], 2-foot-thick concrete walls are dug nearly 1,000 feet into the hillside. Gregory Wedel-Morales, who had been last seen Aug. 19, 2019.