Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz was found dead last Monday due to a suicide. She previously complained to family members that she was the target of sexual harassment and unwanted sex at Fort Hood. LULAC spokesperson Analuisa Tapia spoke at a press conference on Friday.
“The woman is also concerned about the reports from her family that their daughter was the target of sexual violence as the need for a quick, complete and transparent investigation into these claims. This research should begin now. It must be done by an external authority,” said Tapia
In a press conference earlier in the day at Fort Hood, General Sean C. Bernabe said that their investigation showed no signs of foul play.
“ At this point in the study, there are no reports of adverse reactions. So, the point is that nothing has been ruled out and the circumstances leading to Anna’s death will be investigated thoroughly.”
The death of Basaldua Ruiz has some similarities with the 2020 passed by Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén. Guillén disappeared from Fort Hood after telling his family he was being abused. His body was found two and a half months later in a rural village 30 miles from the post. The soldier suspected of killing him later committed suicide.
An independent review panel later found Fort Hood a “permissive environment for sexual and gender-based violence” and pointed to serious deficiencies in the Army defense program. Guillén’s case sparked a national conversation about sexual violence in the military — and laws to change how it’s handled.