When U.S. Army officials reported late Thursday that there was no evidence of foul play in the death of a female soldier who died at Fort Hood in Texas, the family of the deceased soldier is seeking an explanation.
According to authorities, Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, 21, a combat engineer, had been in the 1st Cavalry Division for the previous 15 months.
“Army CID will keep conducting a thorough investigation and compiling all available information to ensure they learn all the details of what happened. Any potential harassment-related information will be handled and thoroughly examined “According to a press release from Fort Hood, Basalduaruiz passed away on March 13.
Lt. Col. Patrick Sullivan, commander of the 91st Engineer Battalion, expressed his great sorrow over the passing of PV2 Ana Basalduaruiz and offered his condolences to her mother, father, and sister. “At this trying time, they are in our hearts and minds. She was a superb colleague who will be sincerely missed.”
What Basalduaruiz’s Parents Said?
According to Basalduaruiz’s parents, base authorities informed them that their daughter committed suicide, as reported by Telemundo News. Her mother, Alejandra Ruiz Zarco, told Telemundo News that her daughter had complained about being sexually harassed by an Army superior and other people on the base. Alejandra Ruiz Zarco resides in Michoacán, Mexico, where her daughter was reared.
Despite the most recent Army update, Basalduaruiz’s family is still largely in the dark about the circumstances surrounding his death, according to Lucy Del Gaudio, a spokesman for the family.
Nobody really has a reliable timeframe at the moment, according to Del Gaudio, who also serves as the Pink Berets’ chief operating officer, a Texas-based nonprofit that assists female service members who are dealing with trauma.
Del Gaudio said that the Army had “stonewalled” the family in regard to the sexual harassment claims.
Del Gaudio observed that the Army was acting in the same manner as usual by remaining silent.
Now, gathering as much information as they can is the family’s major goal.
She stated, “Right now, all they need is support and they want to see how they can obtain whatever answers they can get.
The news is released as the troubled facility implements adjustments in response to a number of military fatalities, including Vanessa Guillén, 20, who was reportedly murdered by a fellow soldier. Guillén vanished in 2020 after she accused Army Spc. Aaron David Robinson of harassing her sexually. While authorities attempted to apprehend him in connection with the death of Guillén, he shot and killed himself.
On Wednesday, Guillén’s sister tweeted: “Ana was only 21 years old…
Guillén’s sister tweeted on Wednesday, “She (Ana) was only 21 years old…I will be speaking to the family soon, I find it very sensitive to speak on something I’m not fully aware off yet and this is also very triggering for me.”
An official tweet of Mayra Guillen:
I’m aware of the death of Ana Basaldua in Ft Hood, TX. May she Rest In Peace. She was only 21 years old…I will be speaking to the family soon, I find it very sensitive to speak on something I’m not fully aware off yet and this is also very triggering for me… I need to gather my… https://t.co/nkdQQdwYEf pic.twitter.com/Mj7XgoYDQ0
— Mayra Guillen (@mguilen_) March 16, 2023
In A Report 2020
After Guillén’s death, congressional probes were launched, and the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee was established. In its 2020 report, the committee found that the base’s management had tolerated sexual harassment and sexual assault. Soldiers felt uncomfortable on the post, and the criminal division detectives had insufficient expertise, according to the study.
The group issued a set of 70 recommendations in 2021, among them rigorous guidelines and deadlines for filing reports of missing soldiers.
Del Gaudio, however, asserts that no lessons have been learned since this episode is merely a replay of what happened to Guillén.
“This is reliving Vanessa Guillén again,” she said. “It shows that all the leg work that we worked on diligently, the promises the Department of Defense made, and actions made against Fort Hood, were not taken seriously. Harassment is still prevalent and they need to address it.”
Baldo Basaldua, the father of Basalduaruiz, released a video of his daughters singing and dancing in the backseat of a vehicle on Facebook with the caption, “Never leave me, I love you baby.”
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
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