By Nicole Acevedo - NBC News
The US Army has declared that Latina soldier Vanessa Guillen died "in the line of duty," which gives her family access to certain military benefits, officials at the Fort Hood military base in Texas said Tuesday.
"The Army conducts a duty-of-duty determination for all soldier deaths," base officials said in a statement announcing that Guillen's family has been informed of the results of the investigation.
The determination entitles the family to a funeral with full military honors, as well as other Army benefits, including
compensation to help the family with their living expenses through Group Life Insurance for Service Members, as well as subsidies.
Vanessa Guillén, 20, was last seen alive on April 22 at the Fort Hood military base.
AP
Guillen, 20, was last seen alive on April 22 at Fort Hood.
His dismembered remains were found near the military base two months later.
When police tried to arrest Private Aaron Robinson, 20, in connection with his disappearance, he shot himself to death, authorities said in early July.
Soon after, a woman identified as Robinson's girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, 22, was arrested on federal charges of tampering with evidence, and charged with helping Robinson dispose of Guillen's body.
Aguilar, who has pleaded not guilty, is due to appear in court on November 30.
Cecily Ann Aguilar, 22, arrested as an accessory in the death of Vanessa Guillén, Bell County
The Army had also opened a separate investigation to investigate allegations that Guillen was sexually harassed by a supervisor inside the military base after Natalie Khawam, the Guillen family's lawyer, said that the soldier had reported the harassment with her family. and with colleagues at Fort Hood.
While officials said they had no credible information or reports that Guillen was sexually assaulted, the allegations led many service members to share their experiences of sexual assault and harassment on social media using the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen.
A report from the Department of Defense in 2018 found that sexual assault within the Army had increased in the previous two years.
Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy has said that Fort Hood boasts one of the highest rates of murder, sexual assault and harassment within the ranks of the Army.
Hundreds of people march in Houston to demand justice for the murder of Vanessa Guillén
Oct. 4, 202001: 06
Family and friends mourned Guillen's murder during a service in her honor on Aug. 14 at the Cesar E. Chavez School in Houston, where the soldier graduated from high school.
[Another soldier dies at the Fort Hood base and there are already 28 this year. Is something strange or unusual happening?]
"It is very difficult for me to be standing here during my sister's funeral," Guillen's younger sister Lupe said during the service.
"But I know that she must be in heaven giving me the strength I need."
"Vanessa Guillen is the definition of beauty and strength," he added.
"But I assure you that he is fine now."
The III Corps leadership at Fort Hood said
they will stay in contact with Guillen's family to keep them informed
about additional actions being taken at the base and "what policies are being reviewed to ensure that the culture within the Army continues to put people first and honoring Vanessa's life. "
