Vanessa Guillén was last seen on April 22, 2020, at around 1 p.m. in the parking lot of her Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters at Fort Hood.1 Her car keys, barracks room key, ID, and wallet were later found in the armory room where she had been working earlier that day.2 On April 23, Guillén was reported missing to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.3 As the investigation proceeded, it faced criticism for its slow progress and lack of transparency.4 On June 30, contractors working on a fence near the Leon River discovered what appeared to be human remains.4 That same day, Spc. Aaron Robinson, a suspect in Guillén's disappearance, died by suicide when law enforcement attempted to make contact with him.4 Cecily Aguilar, a civilian and Robinson's estranged wife, was arrested and charged with helping Robinson dispose of Guillén's body.45 On July 6, officials confirmed the remains found near the Leon River belonged to Vanessa Guillén.4

Vanessa Guillén was brutally murdered on April 22, 2020, inside an armory at Fort Hood, Texas, by fellow soldier Aaron David Robinson.1 Robinson bludgeoned Guillén to death and, with the help of his girlfriend Cecily Aguilar, dismembered and buried her remains near the Leon River.2 An Army investigation later revealed that Guillén had been sexually harassed by a supervisor in her unit prior to her murder, though not by Robinson.34 Despite informally reporting the harassment, her complaints were not adequately addressed by her superiors, highlighting systemic issues within the military's handling of such cases.54

• Guillén's remains were discovered on June 30, 2020, two months after her disappearance.2

• Robinson died by suicide on July 1, 2020, when law enforcement attempted to apprehend him.2

• Cecily Aguilar was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for her role in concealing Guillén's murder.2

• The case exposed serious flaws in Fort Hood's sexual harassment reporting system and command climate.53

The trial of Cecily Aguilar, the only person charged in connection with Vanessa Guillén's murder, concluded with a 30-year federal prison sentence, the maximum punishment allowed1. The sentencing hearing, held on August 14, 2023, involved hours of testimony from attorneys, experts, and Guillén's family members12. Prosecutors presented evidence of Aguilar's involvement in dismembering and concealing Guillén's body, including recordings where she initially denied any involvement before eventually confessing3.

• Aguilar faced charges of accessory to murder and conspiracy, among other federal charges2.

• The Department of Justice stated that in addition to prison time, Aguilar could face three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine2.

• The case highlighted the need for improved law enforcement training and reforms in handling sexual harassment complaints within the military4.

• The Guillén family continues to advocate for full implementation of the "I Am Vanessa Guillén Act," which aims to revamp military investigations into sexual assault and harassment4.