Killing of Vanessa Guillén

Vanessa Guillén was an US Army soldier who disappeared in April 2020 and whose dismembered remains were found two months later. Prior to her disappearance, her family claimed she told them about repeated incidents of sexual harassment she endured while stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. Upon the discovery of Guillén’s remains, police identified Aaron David Robinson as the prime suspect in her death and were attempting to apprehend Robinson when he killed himself. Guillén’s death sparked outrage among members of the military and the public, especially among women’s groups and Latino activists. Many felt her death highlighted an ongoing problem of harassment and sexual assault against women in the military. The case also caught the attention of prominent US political figures, including President Donald Trump, and prompted Fort Hood to conduct a review of its sexual harassment policies.

Background

Vanessa Guillén was born on September 30, 1999, in Houston, Texas. Her parents were Rogelio and Gloria Guillén, both immigrants from Mexico. She grew up in the Houston area, attending both grade school and high school in the city. As a child, Guillén used to play with her brother’s toy guns and dreamed of one day becoming a soldier. At eighteen years old, despite concerns from her parents, Guillén enlisted in the United States Army.

Guillén had been athletic in high school, participating in multiple sports including track and cross-country. She completed basic training in 2018 and was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. Guillén excelled in her chosen career, quickly rising to the rank of specialist. According to her family, Guillén was outwardly happy about her life in the military, but they soon began to notice signs something was wrong.

In the months leading up to Guillén’s disappearance, her family said that she began to look ill. Normally fit and muscular, Guillén began to appear thinner. Over time, her demeanor also became more reserved. Guillén’s parents repeatedly asked their daughter if anything was wrong, but she was at first reluctant. After some prodding from her parents, Guillén told them that she had observed many women at Fort Hood were having problems with sexual harassment. During a subsequent conversation, Guillén told her family that she was being sexually harassed by two superior officers.

According to her family, Guillén named twenty-year-old Army specialist Aaron David Robinson as one of her harassers. However, her family said that Guillén refused to report the accusations to her superiors. She told her family that she feared reprisals from men of higher rank than her own, noting that such retaliation could affect the future of her career.

Overview

Guillén was last reported seen about noon on April 22, 2020, near her squadron headquarters at Fort Hood. Police later said the last person she texted before her disappearance was specialist Robinson. Since she was very close with her family and often communicated with them, they began to notice that she was not answering calls or responding to text messages. That night, Guillén’s family drove to Fort Hood and reported her unusual behavior to her superiors. The next day, the Army Criminal investigation Division was officially notified that Guillén was missing. Witnesses last placed Guillén meeting with Robinson in an arms room to discuss serial numbers for weapons and other equipment.

On April 24, Fort Hood investigators informed local police that a phone that may have belonged to Guillén had been pinged along the Leon River. The Belton police and fire departments searched the area, but were unable to find her. Authorities noted that several of Guillén’s personal belongings, including her wallet, car keys, and room keys, were found in the armory room in which she was seen with Robinson. After no new information was discovered, the Army offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Several Latino groups also stepped forward to offer a reward for information.

In the weeks that followed, Guillén’s family was frustrated by the lack of progress, and came to believe that the Army was not providing them with all of its information regarding her disappearance. They began a social media campaign dedicated to finding Guillén.

On May 7, the Army uncovered a statement from Robinson to Guillén that could be considered sexual harassment, as well as another allegation that Robinson had verbally harassed other women. However, the Army failed to inform the public of these findings. Guillén’s family continued to campaign for information, handing out flyers and working to raise awareness of Guillén’s disappearance.

Meanwhile, the Army continued to investigate links between Guillén and Robinson. Witnesses claimed that Robinson carried a large plastic “tough box” to his vehicle on the night of Guillén’s disappearance. This contradicted Robinson’s initial statements, during which he claimed to have spent the night with his girlfriend.

On June 30, Robinson’s girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, spoke to investigators. She claimed that Robinson killed Guillén with a hammer, and that she helped Robinson dispose of the body. She then called Robinson, who did not deny that he had killed Guillén. That same day, human remains later identified as Guillén’s were found near the Leon River. On July 1, Robinson was confronted by law enforcement after fleeing Fort Hood. He fatally shot himself before he could be apprehended. Soon afterward, Aguilar was arrested and eventually charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

Guillén’s death quickly became a rallying point for activists who protested the military’s response to the issue of sexual assault within its ranks. Several women’s groups highlighted the case as a military version of the “Me Too” movement, in which women recounted their experiences with sexual harassment in order to raise awareness of the issue. Guillén’s death also became an issue during the 2020 presidential race, with incumbent President Donald Trump meeting with the Guillén family and offering to pay for her funeral. Trump’s Democratic challenger Joe Biden also commented on the case, calling on the military to do more to combat sexual harassment.

Bibliography

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Jindia, Shilpa. “‘We Are Vanessa Guillén’: Killing Puts Sexual Violence in US Military in Focus.” Guardian, 14 July 2020, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/14/vanessa-guillen-killing-sexual-violence-us-military. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

Naso, Bridget. “Vanessa Guillen’s Death Sparks Military ‘Me Too’ Movement.” NBC San Diego, 7 July 2020, www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/vanessa-guillens-death-sparks-military-me-too-movement/2361202/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

Osbourne, Heather. “Vanessa Guillen’s Family Struggles to Find Answers After Soldier’s Slaying.” Austin American-Statesman, 17 July 2020, www.statesman.com/news/20200717/vanessa-guillenrsquos-family-struggles-to-find-answers-after-soldierrsquos-slaying. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

Patton, Mary Claire. “Vanessa Guillen: A Timeline of Events and Everything We Know About Her Disappearance.” KSAT, 7 July 2020, www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/07/01/vanessa-guillen-a-timeline-of-events-and-everything-we-know-about-her-disappearance/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

“Remembering Vanessa Guillen.” U.S. Army, 27 Aug. 2020, home.army.mil/hood/index.php/find-vanessa-guillen. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

Rempfer, Kyle. “Army Says Fort Hood Meets Harassment Standards, But Review Didn’t Include Vanessa Guillen’s Unit.” Army Times, 29 July 2020, www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/07/29/army-insists-fort-hood-meets-harassment-standards-but-didnt-review-vanessa-guillens-unit/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

“Vanessa Guillen Biography: 13 Things About Hispanic US Army Soldier.” Newsbreak, 2 July 2020, www.newsbreak.com/texas/houston/news/1593647938681/vanessa-guillen-biography-13-things-about-hispanic-us-army-soldier. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.