U.S. ArmyBy CHRISTINA CARREGA, ABC News
(FORT HOOD, Texas) — Investigators searching for missing Fort Hood, Texas, soldier Vanessa Guillen have unearthed unidentified human remains near the Leon River, authorities say.
The remains, which will undergo an identification process, were found near where a previous search was conducted on June 22, officials with the Army Criminal Investigation Division said.
“After receiving additional information, agents have discovered what has been described as partial human remains after analysis from a forensic anthropologist,” said CID Chief of Public Affairs Chris Grey.
“Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, no further information will be released at this time,” Grey said.
The discovery came on the same day that Guillen’s family announced they were seeking a congressional investigation into the 20-year-old’s disappearance.
Guillen was last seen in the parking lot of her Regimental Engineer Squadron headquarters at the Fort Hood military base on April 22, and has not been heard from since.
“Due to the lack of answers, safety, respect, and responsibility in Fort Hood, we are demanding a Congressional Investigation to be done,” Guillen family attorney Natalie Khawam wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. “It is truly disappointing how Fort Hood Army Base, a military base, has not given answers to Vanessa’s family.”
Khawam and Guillen’s family said that Guillen complained to family members about being the victim of sexual harassment on the base, but never filed a formal complaint for fear of retaliation.
“At this point, investigators have no credible information or report that Vanessa Guillen was sexually assaulted,” military officials said in a previous statement.
Khawam said she’s planning to propose legislation to protect U.S military soldiers from sexual harassment and sexual assault, with an announcement expected at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday at noon.
“Our soldiers deserve to be safe and respected while being on duty,” wrote Khawam on Facebook. “Those soldier are putting their life for the United States yet the same army family fails to respect them mentally, physically or sexually … Our soldiers need feel and be safe while being on duty.”
Guillen’s disappearance comes eight months after the disappearance of Fort Hood Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, whose body was discovered near the base and positively identified on June 19. Although autopsy results are pending for Wedel-Morales, officials said they suspect his death resulted from foul play.
Military officials told Houston ABC station KTRK-TV on June 23 that they also suspect foul play in Guillen’s disappearance.
The CID and The League of United Latin American Citizens are each offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Guillen’s whereabouts.
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