Get TPR's best stories of the day and a jump start to the weekend with the 321 Newsletter 鈥� straight to your inbox every day. Sign up for it .
A Killeen woman was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for her role in the death of Army Spc. Vanessa Guill茅n. Cecily Aguilar, 25, helped mutilate and conceal Guillen鈥檚 remains, according to court documents. She also destroyed important digital evidence in the case and made false statements to federal investigators.
On Nov. 29, 2022, Aguilar pleaded guilty to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of false statement or representation, according to the US Attorney鈥檚 Office.
The sentencing hearing began at 9 a.m. in Waco before US District Court Judge Alan D. Albright. The Guill茅n family, their attorney Natalie Khawam and Vanessa鈥檚 friends shared victim impact statements and demonstrated outside the courthouse to demand the maximum sentence for Aguilar.
You received Justice today. rest easy sister. Today was such a hard day, I learned so many details regarding your death after the fact of it鈥檚 been 3 YEARS. My heart hurts. 馃挃 Cecily Ann Aguilar has received the Maximum sentence of 30 years.
— Mayra Guillen (@mguilen_)
Aguilar鈥檚 deceased boyfriend, Spc. Aaron Robinson, is suspected of killing Guill茅n in an arms room at Fort Hood 鈥� now Fort Cavazos 鈥� in April 2020. Federal and state authorities believe Robinson beat Guill茅n with a hammer, and later dismembered and burned her body.
Aguilar helped Robinson bury the soldier鈥檚 remains near the Leon River near Belton, Texas. Robinson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when he was approached by police on July 1, 2020.
The motive for Guill茅n鈥檚 killing is still unclear. An Army report issued in April 2021 said that Guill茅n had been sexually harassed, but not by Robinson. Robinson was accused of sexual harassment in an unrelated case.
Guill茅n鈥檚 death triggered a national conversation about sexual violence in the military and legislation to change how it's handled.
"There are no winners in this story," said Analuisa Tapia, a League of United Latin American Citizens leader. 鈥淲hat we have been seeking isn't vengeance but justice so that this never happens again....Perhaps now, we can begin to let Vanessa rest in peace and power that her death has brought us to a better place for others.鈥�
Copyright 2023 Texas Public Radio. To see more, visit .
