Private First-Class Vanessa Guillen, 20, vanished on April 22. She was last seen at Ford Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas
The Army has released images of troopers searching for missing soldier Vanessa Guillen, almost two months after she vanished.
Private First-Class Guillen, 20, was last seen in a parking lot at Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas on the afternoon of April 22.
Guillen’s disappearance has been made all the more sinister after reports she told her family that she was being sexually harassed by a sergeant and did not feel safe shortly before she vanished. Guillen did not name her alleged harasser.
The Army is now investigating those claims as they continue their ‘aggressive’ search around the 214,000 acre Fort Hood base.
On Thursday, members of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment Trooper were pictured scouring fields and river beds in the training areas of Fort Hood in an attempt to uncover clues at to Guillen’s whereabouts.
Several soldiers were also seen out on a boat as they conducted a water search.
On Thursday, members of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment Trooper were pictured scouring fields and river beds in the training area at Fort Hood in an attempt to uncover clues at to Guillen’s whereabouts
Soldiers are seen scouring a part of the 214,000 acre Fort Hood base on Thursday
‘Tomahawk troop, Pioneer Squadron and 3rd Cavalry Regiment have led hundreds of hours of searches through the buildings, barracks, fields, training areas, lakes, and trails all over Fort Hood,’ Lt. Col. Edward Gavin, who is commanding the search, stated in a press release.
‘We have sought to develop the situation by action, not leaving to chance that Guillen may be on-post. It breaks my heart for her family, with so many unanswered questions, but also for this troop – who have many of the same questions and are still searching for evidence of her whereabouts.’
The release also included a message from one of Guillen’s fellow female soldiers.
‘No one really understands how much we’re searching; I hope we can find her and as much as I know America has faith in us to protect this country and to fight for our nation, I feel like they should have faith in us to know that we are doing everything possible to find her,’ Sergeant 1st Class Ashlee Ibarra stated.
Agents are continuing to conduct interviews and follow up on all credible investigative leads in a quest to locate the young soldier.
Guillen’s disappearance has been made all the more sinister after reports she told her family that she was being sexually harassed by a sergeant before she vanished. Guillen did not name her alleged harasser
Officials at the Fort Hood army base in Texas have announced an investigation into Guillen’s claims she was sexually harassed
It comes after the Fort Hood Army Base officially launched an investigation earlier this week into Guillen’s alleged claims of sexual harassment.
On Thursday Col. Ralph Overland, the commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, appointed a team to perform a standard investigation called an ‘AR 15-6 investigation’.
‘I take allegations of sexual harassment very seriously and we are conducting a thorough investigation,’ he stated. Overland declared the regiment ‘will not stop until we find her.’
A reward of $55,000 is being offered for information in Guillen’s disappearance.
The Army announced Monday it had increased its initial reward offering of $15,000 to $25,000. Texas rapper Baby Bash subsequently said he’d pay $5,000 for information on her location, before the LULAC announced an additional $25,000 reward.
Guillen’s family have also pleaded for more to be done to help find her.
‘Two months have passed, and we know nothing, nothing, nothing. What’s happened? What happened on that base? Why did my daughter disappear?’ Guillen’s mother Gloria said Tuesday during a virtual press conference hosted by Texas Congresswoman Sylvia García.
The family have begged he military to share more information about her disappearance. Pictured is Vanessa’s mother Gloria Guillen holding her military portrait
Guillen’s (circled in red) car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she was working earlier in the day
‘I can’t bear anymore, not one day more because I’m not sleeping and I’m in bad health. Where is my daughter?’
Actress Salma Hayek shared a post on Instagram vowing to share a picture of Guillen every day until she is found.
Guillen’s car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she was working earlier in the day. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, light purple leggings and black Nike sneakers.
Mayra Guillen wrote on Facebook that the missing woman’s phone was last tracked on Belton, Texas, about 20 minutes away from Fort Hood. Her phone has not been found.
Guillen is described as a woman of Hispanic descent, standing at 5 feet 2 inches, weighing 126 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on Guillen’s whereabouts is asked to call 254-495-7767 or send a tip via the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command website.
Mexican-American film actress Salma Hayek has pledged to post pictures of missing soldier Private First Class Vanessa Guillen, 20, on her Instagram page until she is found