In the new episode of the Crime Cases with the Sergeant podcast, we relive one of the most painful and revealing cases of recent years: the murder of 20-year-old Hispanic soldier Vanessa Guillen inside the Fort Hood, Texas, military base in 2020. Here you can listen to the podcast right now.
The episode, entitled The Silence that Killed Vanessa Guillén, reconstructs in detail the events that led to her disappearance, her family’s desperate search and the discovery of her body more than two months later, mutilated and buried next to the Leon River in Bell County.
Listen to the podcast by clicking on the photo
Narrated by Sergeant Cornejo, the chapter guides the audience through the last days of Vanessa Guillén, who was last seen on April 22, 2020.
The investigation revealed that the Hispanic soldier was killed inside an armory by Private Aaron David Robinson, who beat Vanessa to death with a hammer.
The soldier then dismembered his body with the help of his partner, Cecily Aguilar, and tried to hide the crime.
Robinson committed suicide when authorities attempted to arrest him on July 1, 2020.
Cecily Aguilar was arrested that same day and pleaded guilty in 2022 for her participation in the crime.
He is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence.
The struggle of a family that did not remain silent
The episode also exposes how the Guillén family, led by their mother Gloria Guillén and sisters Mayra and Lupe, broke the wall of silence with protests in front of the White House, press conferences and international denunciations.
The public pressure generated by the case forced Congress to pass the federal law known as “I Am Vanessa Guillén” in 2021, which reformed the military justice system.
As of this law, complaints of sexual harassment or assault within the Army are no longer investigated by the military chain of command itself, but by independent authorities, which seeks to avoid retaliation or cover-ups.
A legacy that lives on in the armed forces
In addition to recounting the criminal facts, the podcast analyzes the social impact of the case.
That is, the fear of many female soldiers to come forward, the culture of silence at Fort Hood, and how Vanessa became a symbol of justice for thousands of young Latinas now serving in the U.S. military.
According to Department of Defense data, more than 24% of enlistees are Latino, and women represent about 17% of active military personnel.
Buzzy
Cases such as Vanessa Guillén’s make visible the risks that many of them face in environments that should be safe.
El silencio que mató a Vanessa Guillén is now available on the main audio platforms, where you can also listen to previous episodes.
It is an episode that honors the memory of a victim, demands justice and exposes uncomfortable truths about an institution that still has much to change.
In addition to Casos del Crimen, QuéOnnda and Nueva Network have other successful podcast productions such as La Huella Ovni or Los Reyes de la Mañana, which are also available on all audio platforms.
