Army fires, suspends Fort Hood leaders over violence at post, including Guillen murder
12/08/2020 9:21 am PST
via KXAN:
WASHINGTON (KXAN/AP) -- Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced Tuesday that 14 leaders at Fort Hood were either “relieved or suspended” as a result of an independent investigation into violence at the post, including murders, sexual assaults and suicides.
Two general officers are among those being removed from their jobs, as top Army leaders on Tuesday announced the findings of an independent panel's investigation into problems at the Texas base.
The actions taken by McCarthy come in the aftermath of a year that saw 25 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood die due to suicide, homicide or accidents, including the bludgeoning death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen. Guillen was missing for about two months before her remains were found.
- TRUE CRIME DAILY: Vanessa Guillen case coverage - TCD
The firings and suspensions include Army Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, who was left in charge of the base earlier this year when Guillen was killed, as well as Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, commander of the 1st Cavalry Divisions.
According to investigators, Guillen, 20, was bludgeoned to death at Fort Hood by Spc. Aaron Robinson, who killed himself on July 1 as police were trying to take him into custody. Guillen's family has said Robinson sexually harassed her, though the Army has said there is no evidence supporting that claim.
The body of Pvt. Mejhor Morta was found in July near a reservoir by the base. In June, officials discovered the remains of another missing soldier, Gregory Morales, about 10 miles from that lake. All together, so far this year, 25 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood have died due to suicide, homicide or accidents, compared with 32 last year and 24 in 2018.
