Latina Soldier Vanessa Guillen Has Been Missing for Almost Two Months
The family of Vanessa Guillen wants her back
Photo: Facebook/@findvanessaguillen
The family of Vanessa Guillen wants her back. The 20-year-old Latina Fort Hood soldier from Houston has been missing since April 22. It’s as if she just vanished. There’s very little information about what led to her disappearance, but her family is doing everything they can to find her.
Vanessa was last seen around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, “in the parking lot of the Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters for the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at the base,” Stars and Stripes report.
Her belongings, including her wallet, car keys, and barracks room key, were discovered in the “armory room where she was working earlier in the day.”
The Army Criminal Investigation Command issued a $15,000 reward for information regarding the case.
“We still don’t get answers as to who, what, where exactly, and why. We ask for the public’s help to keep the word out. Her case won’t remain silent,” Mayra Guillen, Vanessa’s older sister, said in a press conference.
Mayra also brought attention to another missing person’s report on the same base. Fort Hood soldier Gregory Wedel-Morales went missing on August 19, 2019. He, too, seemed to vanish without a trace.
Fort Hood issued a recent press release saying efforts to find her are ongoing.
“Pfc. Vanessa Guillen is a highly valued member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment,” Col. Ralph Overland, 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander, said. “We will maintain our resolve to locate Pfc. Vanessa Guillen and will continue our efforts until she is found,” Overland said. “We will never quit searching.”
Actress Salma Hayek is also spreading awareness about Vanessa by posting her image and her story on her Instagram account.
Her family has also set up the Facebook page and Instagram account, Find Vanessa Guillen, and also put up a billboard hoping more people will see her face and report any information about her to authorities.
On June 10, her family posted this message: Please Share: Why Share?
Because it’s a human’s life and deserves respect! Why? because it only takes seconds to do so! Why? because she serves and protects the country! Why? because put yourself in the family’s position! A mother that doesn’t know where her child is! No soldier, men or female should be disrespected, mentally, sexually, or physically. No one should be seen as a sexual object! They are the ones who put their life at risk for the nation. We need justice and answers.”
