Ana Basalduaruiz (KTBC screenshot)
The death of a 20-year-old US Army soldier in Texas who recently told her family she was being sexually harassed did not involve foul play, officials said this week.
According to a press release, Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, a combat engineer who served with the 1st Cavalry Division for the past 15 months, was found dead Monday in a maintenance bay at Fort Hood Army Base, Texas. This is the same base where 20-year-old Vanessa Guillén was murdered three years ago after she similarly claimed she had been sexually harassed.
“Army Criminal Investigation Department officials have confirmed that at this stage of the investigation into the death of Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, no foul play is evident and will be investigated,” a press release from the Fort Hood Press Center said Thursday. “Army CID will continue to thoroughly investigate and gather all evidence and facts to ensure they find out exactly what happened. pass. Reports of any possible harassment will be handled and thoroughly investigated.
Basalduaruiz told her family last month that she was being sexually harassed by at least one of her superiors on base, according to an ABC News report.
Fort Hood Commander Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe assured that the Army CID investigation “excludes nothing and will fully and completely investigate the circumstances that led to Ana’s death” during the incident. a press conference on Friday.
CID conducts its investigations outside of Fort Hood’s chain of command. Bernabe also noted that authorities are keeping Basalduaruiz’s family updated on the investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of PV2 Ana Basalduaruiz, and we extend our condolences to her father, mother and sister,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Sullivan, commander of the 91st Engineer Battalion. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. She was an exceptional teammate who will be truly missed.
Fort Hood was examined after Guillén disappeared on April 22, 2020. Her family said she told them she had been sexually harassed and was afraid to report it. His dismembered remains were not located for over a month.
Investigators said another soldier, Spc. Aaron David Robinson killed Guillén, then fled the base and killed himself in the face of law enforcement.
Robinson’s girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, later claimed that Robinson confessed to killing Guillén by repeatedly hitting his head with a hammer in an armory. Prosecutors said Robinson recruited her to help dismember and hide Guillén’s remains. Aguilar pleaded guilty in November to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of misrepresentation and faces up to 30 years in prison.
An independent review of Guillén’s death resulted in the removal of 14 senior Fort Hood base leaders.
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