A military suspect took his own life on June 30 in Killeen, Texas, and a civilian suspect has been arrested by the Texas Rangers in connection with the disappearance of US Army Pfc. Vanessa Guillen.
Special Agents from the US Army Criminal Investigation Command, along with the US Marshals, Killeen Police Department, and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force were attempting to locate the junior soldier from Fort Hood who fled the post late yesterday. While law enforcement agencies, minus Army CID special agents, attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect reportedly displayed a weapon and took his own life.
According to the army, the civilian suspect is the estranged wife of a former Fort Hood soldier and is currently in custody in the Bell County Jail awaiting charges by civilian authorities.
Additionally, the Texas Rangers are still processing the scene at the Leon River in Bell County, Texas, where partial human remains were discovered yesterday. Coordination has been made with Armed Forces Medical Examiner Services, who will assist with dental x-rays/DNA for identification by the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science, Dallas, Texas. A positive identification of the remains is pending.
“We have made significant progress in this tragic situation and are doing everything possible to get to the truth and bring answers to the family of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen,” said Chris Grey, the spokesman for Army CID.
The 20-year-old Guillen was last seen on the morning of April 22 in the parking lot of her Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters, 3rd Cavalry Regiment on Fort Hood, Texas, and had not been heard from since that date.
According to CID officials, this is still an open and ongoing criminal investigation.
“There are obviously pieces of information and evidence that cannot be shared with the public during an active criminal investigation. Doing so can seriously jeopardize the charging and successful prosecution of individuals,” Grey added.
