Who was Aaron Robinson? The US Sun
THE death of Vanessa Guillen in April 2020 shocked the nation, with the US army soldier's killing sparking furious public backlash over claims from her family that her pleas for help were ignored by the military.
Now, a new Netflix documentary is set to lift the lid on the saga on November 17 - including a deep dive into Aaron David Robinson, the man implicated in her death.
Her death made international headlines after it sparked the "I Am Vanessa Guillen" movement in 2020.
The campaign targeted issues within the US Military and saw hundreds of servicemembers openly share their experiences with sexual assault within their ranks.
Who was Aaron David Robinson?
Following the discovery of Guillen's body two months after her disappearance in April 2020, Crime Online reported that a military suspect connected with Guillen's disappearance, identified as Aaron Robinson, was connected to the case.
He then reportedly shot himself after authorities approached him at East Rancier Avenue in Killeen.
The suicide came after authorities allegedly found concrete-sealed human remains near the Fort Hood base, later identified as Guillen.
Robinson and Guillen were both stationed at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas.
Prior to her death, Guillen had told family members that she was being sexually assaulted by an unnamed sergeant - but it is unclear if Robinson was the alleged perpetrator.
Will there be a documentary on Vanessa Guillen?
"I am Vanessa Guillen," a documentary depicting the tragedy of Vanessa Guillen who was killed in 2022, is set premiere November 17 on Netflix.
"Vanessa Guillen was 20 years old when she was found murdered at a US Army base. Rather than submit to silence, her family fought for justice and change," reads the official synopsis on Netflix.
The documentary is an hour and 36 minutes and will feature the brutal story of the 20-year-old.
"At the core, this is a story about overcoming the greatest odds imaginable in the name of family, love and justice," said director Christy Wegener.
"This is David vs. Goliath on steroids. Taking on the U.S. military, one of the largest, most powerful institutions in America is no easy feat. In making the film, it was incredible to witness a family, in the most tragic moment of their lives, put their grief aside, step out into the public arena and fight for the greater good."
What did Aaron David Robinson do?
Robinson allegedly killed Guillen with a hammer in the army base's armory in April 2020.
It is claimed that he did so after she found out he was having an affair with a married woman, Cecily Aguilar, when she saw a picture of the woman on his phone.
He then enlisted the help of Aguilar to hide her body - with Aguilar alleging that Robinson forced her to help at gunpoint, according to Army Times.
Following Guillen's death and the national manhunt for her killer, the sergeant died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when he was approached by law enforcement on July 1, 2020, according to police in Killeen, Texas.
Robinson's suicide came as investigators tried to apprehend him after finding Guillen’s remains, which were buried along the Leon River, about 30 miles from Fort Hood.
Who is Cecily Aguilar?
Cecily Aguilar is the only defendant charged in the murder investigation. She is facing 11 different charges for her involvement in the case, and her trial is set to begin on January 3, 2023.
The 22-year-old was married to another soldier but was said to be Robinson's lover - leading to the sergeant's fears he would get into trouble if he was caught.
She told investigators that Robinson bludgeoned Guillen with a hammer after she discovered a picture of Aguilar in his phone, according to a 61-page Texas Department of Public Safety investigation.
“Aguilar later explained why Robinson killed Guillen, saying Guillen saw Robinson’s cellphone lock screen, which contained a picture of Aguilar,” the Texas DPS document reads.
“[Robinson] told her he was worried about getting in trouble for violating the Army’s fraternization rules since Aguilar was still married to another soldier and he hit Guillen in the head with a hammer.”
She told investigators that after she was picked up from work by Robinson, he drove her to Guillen's body in the Leon River.
Aguilar claims Robinson then put a gun to her head and threatened her so she would help him cover up the killing.
What happened to Aaron Robinson?
After Aaron Robinson's suicide, the saga that led to the death of Guillen caught national attention.
Guillen's family filed a $£35 million lawsuit against the US Army, seeking damages on the basis of sexual harassment, abuse, assault, rape, sodomy, and wrongful death.
In April 2021, a year after Guillen's death, the Army released a report confirming that officers ignored Guillen's sexual harassment complaints.
She had reportedly verbally reported it at least twice in 2019, and the report lead to the firing or suspension of 14 Army officials.
The ordeal is set to be portrayed in a new Netflix show titled I Am Venessa Guillen, which will air on November 17.
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