{"id":46536,"date":"2020-06-17T17:11:44","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T17:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/06\/17\/missing-soldiers-regiment-forms-internal-investigation-into-sexual-harassment-allegations\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:42:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:42:02","slug":"missing-soldiers-regiment-forms-internal-investigation-into-sexual-harassment-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2020\/06\/17\/missing-soldiers-regiment-forms-internal-investigation-into-sexual-harassment-allegations\/","title":{"rendered":"Missing soldier\u2019s regiment forms internal investigation into sexual harassment allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 3rd Cavalry Regiment<\/a> on Fort Hood, Texas<\/a>, is conducting its own investigation into allegations that Pfc. Vanessa Guillen<\/a>, 20, faced sexual harassment from a sergeant prior to her April 22 disappearance, according to a Texas congresswoman lobbying for answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Sylvia Garc\u00eda said during a press conference Tuesday with Guillen\u2019s family that she has been in touch with Col. Ralph Overland, 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guillen\u2019s family has said that the missing soldier complained to her mother about an Army sergeant who was sexually harassing her and following her on runs prior to her disappearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was pleased this morning, on a call with the colonel, he mentioned that he had formed his own internal investigative group to look at every allegation related to sexual assault or sexual harassment in this case,\u201d Garc\u00eda said Tuesday afternoon. \u201cSo I\u2019m hopeful that that, too, will shed light on this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials from 3rd Cavalry Regiment confirmed Thursday that Overland appointed a team led by a senior investigating officer to conduct an AR 15-6 Investigation into allegations by Guillen\u2019s family that the soldier was sexually harassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guillen\u2019s older sister, Mayra, told Army Times on Monday she was unsure whether her sister ultimately reported the sexual harassment to the Army\u2019s Sexual Harassment\/Assault Response and Prevention program. A website for Guillen<\/a> states she told her mother she was worried her allegations would get her in trouble or be brushed aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know that the armed services do not always have the best record when it comes to cases of sexual assault,\u201d Garc\u00eda said. \u201cSo we cannot let these allegations go without full investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was last seen April 22 in the parking lot of her Regimental Engineer Squadron Headquarters, 3rd Cavalry Regiment on Fort Hood, Texas. (Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Garc\u00eda also asked the regiment commander for \u201ca concrete deadline about what they have been doing to find Vanessa and ensure there is more transparency in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still waiting on information from the base, and I would certainly like the FBI to have a more robust investigation in conjunction with [Army CID],\u201d Garc\u00eda added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayra, Guillen\u2019s sister, wants the FBI to take over the case from Army CID, because of what she termed the lack of information being provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guillen\u2019s family has raised questions about how much of a search effort is actually underway, as well as about the absence of video surveillance records. The family was told there is no camera in the armory where Guillen worked prior to her disappearance before 1 p.m. April 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt happened inside a federal building, a military base, and we still don\u2019t get answers as to who, what, where exactly and why,\u201d Mayra said last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\t