Soldier’s loss felt in city’s heart
Murals honor Guillén, a Chavez grad who inspired classmates
A chorus of mariachis broke the silence Sunday outside a gym in southeast Houston, where a crowd paid tribute to Vanessa Guillén, the slain Fort Hood soldier who had attended high school 2 miles away.
Standing beside one of many murals being painted around Houston in honor of the Chavez High School graduate — friends spoke of Guillén’s strength and uplifting attitude.
“When we played soccer, she was always the first on the field,” said Erika Ramirez, who graduated from Chavez with Guillén. “She always inspired everybody.” Remains found last Tuesday near Fort Hood have been officially identified as those of Guillén, her family announced Sunday, according to multiple media reports. Guillén, who originally disappeared April 22, was killed in a brutal attack before her body was dismembered and buried near the military base, authorities said.
Since then, “Justice for Vanessa” has become a rallying cry among activists, lawmakers and civil rights groups who have criticized the Army’s handling of its investigation. Her family says there is evidence that she had been sexually harassed on the base before she disappeared, but investigators last week said they had not found any proof that sexual harassment played a role in her disappearance.
The Houston native’s death has struck an especially emotional note in her hometown, where on Saturday more than 1,000 protesters stretched at least two city blocks as they made their way from Discovery Green to City Hall, chanting her name and calling for a new investigation.
On Sunday, more than 100 people honored her memory by placing flowers, candles and illustrations at the foot of the mural, which depicted Guillén with angel wings in front of Mexican and United States flags. Several murals are being planned across town.
Classmate Hasen Trochez said he learned she was a consistently hard worker in the weight room at school.
“She was the strongest woman I had ever met,” he said. “I learned so much from her … I just want to tell Vanessa that I love her and we’re not going to stop until we get what we’re asking for.”
Military officials had identified the key suspect in her disappearance as Spc. Aaron David Robinson, who shot and killed himself last week as law enforcement confronted him on a Killeen road. The FBI has since filed court documents alleging that Robinson bludgeoned her to death and, with the help of his girlfriend Cecily Ann Aguilar, dismembered and buried her body along the Leon River.
Aguilar has since been arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence after she admitted to helping Robinson in the slaying. Army officials also have said that they will review the post’s sexual harassment and assault response protocols in the wake of the family’s allegations.
Power House Gym owner Luis Torres said he helped arrange the mural on his business because Guillén lived nearby and knew some people who frequent his gym. Her story also made him think about his own daughter and the sexual abuse that women in the military face.
“She fought a different battle,” he said. “She didn’t go to Afghanistan. She didn’t go to Iraq … she fought an enemy that was supposed to be protecting her.”
The gym is located in the predominantly Hispanic Park Place neighborhood. Many people who attended Sunday’s vigil said Guillén reminded them of their own family members.
“I had a sister in the Navy, so that could have been her, and my mom has also been crying for this girl,” said Nikita Mejias. “It just hit so close to home.”
Mejias said she had been driving to Killeen almost every Friday since May to join protests for Guillén. She carpooled with Jennifer Gutierrez, who said the Army “failed (Guillén’s) family and friends.”
“I think they didn’t do a proper investigation, and I think they waited too long,” she said.
Roland Saldaña and Marcos Del Bosque, known as the Artistik Misfits, painted the mural on the gym. Donkeeboy, also known as Alex Roman Jr., who created the popular mural of George Floyd in Third Ward, is among other Houston artists who have memorialized the soldier.
Saldaña said he and Del Bosque jumped at the opportunity to honor her.
“It went from a distant story on (the news) to us realizing this is our community,” Saldaña said. “This is our hometown.”