A 22-year-old Texas woman has been charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence in connection with the alleged killing of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen.
According to a Department of Justice complaint, Army Spc. Aaron Robinson admitted to Cecily Aguilar that he had killed Guillen on Fort Hood by striking her in the head with a hammer, and enlisted Aguilar’s help in disposing of the body.
“The complaint further alleges that at a later time Aguilar recognized the deceased, whom she helped Robinson mutilate and dispose of, as Vanessa Guillen,” a DoJ press release says.
Aguilar, who was arrested on Wednesday, faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, the release added. She is the “estranged wife” of a former soldier, according to the Army Criminal Investigative Command.
Robinson, 20, died by suicide after he fled Fort Hood and was confronted by law enforcement.
Guillen, 20, was allegedly murdered in her unit’s armory on base the same day of her disappearance on April 22, according to a lawyer for her family. “At first they tried to set her on fire, but she wouldn’t burn,” attorney Natalie Khawam told Army Times. “Then they dismembered this beautiful U.S. soldier’s body with a machete.”
Although unidentified human remains were found earlier this week and suspected to belong to Guillen, Army officials said Thursday that no positive confirmation has yet been made.
“Vanessa Guillen is a loss to all of us,” said Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, Fort Hood senior commander.