Document: Missing soldier killed at Fort Hood base
AUSTIN, Texas – Federal and military investigators said a soldier missing since April was killed and dismembered by a fellow soldier stationed at the same Texas base. The revelation followed demands for the Army to release details about its investigation of the disappearance.
A criminal complaint released Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas charges a civilian with helping hide the body of 20-year-old soldier Vanessa Guillen. The document, prepared in conjunction with the Army Criminal Investigative Command and the FBI, said the civilian helped the other soldier get rid of evidence after he bludgeoned Guillen with a hammer at Fort Hood and later dismembered and dumped the body.
Human remains were found Tuesday near the Leon River in Bell County, about 20 miles east of Fort Hood, in the search for Guillen. Her family said through attorney Natalie Khawam that they believe evidence showed the remains are Guillen, but authorities said they are still awaiting identification.
The Army said Wednesday that the soldier suspected in Guillen’s disappearance had killed himself.
At a news conference Thursday, the Army identified that soldier as Aaron David Robinson. Army investigators declined to comment further on the details of Guillen’s case.
The criminal complaint released later Thursday said the civilian arrested in the Guillen case is Cecily Aguilar, 22, of Killeen, Texas, near Fort Hood. Aguilar faces one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence.
Robinson enlisted Aguilar to help him dispose of Guillen’s body, according to the complaint. Aguilar later helped Robinson mutilate and hide her body.
Aguilar was arrested Wednesday and was being held Thursday in the Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas, according to booking records. It was unknown whether she had an attorney.