U.S. Army investigators have increased the reward for information leading to the whereabouts of a missing Fort Hood soldier to $25,000.
Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was last seen April 22 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in a parking lot on Fort Hood wearing a black t-shirt and purple fitness-type pants.
Her car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she was working earlier in the day, Army officials said.
Guillen is 5-foot-2, about 126 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Dozens of family members, friends and well-wishers, many traveling from Guillen’s hometown of Houston, gathered at the intersection of North Fort Hood Street and West Rancier Avenue in Killeen last Friday, chanting “We want Vanessa” while holding signs with pictures of her.
Several drivers honked their horns in support of the rally, which was organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Another soldier, Gregory Wedel-Morales, was last seen on the night of Aug. 19, 2019, while driving his car in Killeen, but investigators say that, despite online rumors, they have no credible information that links Guillen’s case to the Wedel-Morales case.
“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, a spokesman for Army investigators. “We will not stop until we find Vanessa.”
More than 150 people have been interviewed and other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Belton police and Texas Department of Public Safety are helping the investigation, Grey said.
“We have also partnered with Texas EquuSearch and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to tap into their resources as well,” he said. “We have participated in ground and air searches on Fort Hood and throughout the Central Texas region.”
Anyone with more information can call Army investigators at 254-287-2722 or the Military Police Desk at 254-288-1170. They can also anonymously submit information at cid.army.mil/report-a-crime.
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