Ft. Hood, TX — Nearly two months after 20-year-old Private First Class Vanessa Guillen was last seen at a Fort Hood parking lot, Fort Hood officials announced they have initiated an internal investigation into the sexual harassment allegations made by Guillen.
According to her family, the soldier told them she had been sexually harassed on base before she disappeared. She told them she didn’t want to report the sexual harassment out of fear of retaliation.
The investigation team will be led by a senior investigating officer who will conduct a commander’s investigation, known as an “AR 15-6 Investigation.”
“I opened an investigation concerning the information provided by the Guillen Family that Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was harassed prior to her disappearance,” Col. Ralph Overland, Commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, said in a statement. “I take allegations of sexual harassment very seriously and we are conducting a thorough investigation.”
A AR 15-6 investigation is not a criminal proceeding, but rather collects statements and facts that are gathered from informal reviews.
According to a press release from the U.S. Criminal Investigations Command from June 15, 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.”
According to Army CID, “at this point, investigators have no credible information or report that Vanessa Guillen was sexually assaulted.”
“We are completely committed to finding Vanessa and aggressively going after every single piece of credible information and every lead in this investigation,” said Chris Grey, spokesman for Army CID. “We will not stop until we find Vanessa."
“We know somebody out there has some very critical information pertaining to this investigation and we strongly encourage you to do the right thing and come forward,” Grey said. “Do it for Vanessa and do it for her family, friends, and fellow Soldiers.”
The search for Guillen is being conducted by the 3rd Cavalry Regiment according to Col. Overland. The reward for information that can lead to Guillen has been increased to $55,000 after several groups and individuals have pledged to donate money.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Army CID Special Agents at 254-495-7767 or the Military Police Desk at 254-287-4001.
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