The US Army has suspended or fired 14 members of the command at Fort Hood in the aftermath of the investigation into the murder of US Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén as well as a spate of other crimes at the Texas base, the Washington Post reports.
Guillén, a 20-year-old soldier from Houston, was reported missing April 22nd. Her remains were found in a shallow grave just east of the base on July 1st, with forensic scientists matching them to her two days later. Army Spc. Aaron Robinson allegedly killed Guillén because he was involved with her and another woman; Robinson committed suicide when the remains were found.
An independent civilian commission investigated the situation at Fort Hood and found the command structure highly permissive of sexual harassment, abuse and other lax discipline. The number of murders and disappearances of people at the base, as well as other serious crimes, particularly sex crimes, greatly exceeded other posts, the commission found.
Maj. Gen. Scott L. Efflandt, the commander of Fort Hood at the time of Guillén’s ‘s death, was relieved of command, the Army said. The Army also relieved the leadership of Guillén’s unit, Col. Ralph Overland and Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Knapp of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, according to the Post.
The non-commissioned officers in Guillén’s squad were also punished, and others were suspended pending the completion of a separate investigation.