Authorities on Thursday released the names of two suspects — including a Fort Hood soldier who died Wednesday of a self-inflected gunshot wound — after both were tied to the disappearance of Spc. Vanessa Guillen.
U.S. Army officials at Fort Hood on Thursday identified the soldier as 20-year-old Spc. Aaron David Robinson of Illinois. Hours later, United States Department of Justice officials identified the second suspect as Cecily Anne Aguilar, a 22-year-old Killeen resident.
Officials during a news conference at Fort Hood Thursday told reporters that Robinson ran away from his post Tuesday evening after reports that partial human remains were found near the Leon River in Bell County.
Local law enforcement later found Robinson in the 4700 block of East Rancier Avenue, east of Fort Hood near North Twin Creek Drive, where he pulled a gun and shot himself when confronted by Killeen police early Wednesday.
While Guillen’s family and their attorney, Natalie Khawam, say the remains found near the river are likely that of the missing soldier, U.S. Army officials at Fort Hood on Thursday said the remains had yet to be identified.
Special Agent Damon Phelps with the Army Criminal Investigation Command said Thursday that a second suspect also was arrested this week, but he declined to release her name.
“Because she is a civilian in the custody of local authorities, Army CID will not be releasing any further information concerning her or her status at this time,” Phelps said, adding that no organization had yet been assigned to the woman’s case nor was anyone given the authority to release her name.
However, federal authorities on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against Aguilar in connection with Guillen’s disappearance.
