KILLEEN, Texas — Spc. Vanessa Guillen's death, along with the deaths of several other soldiers shed light on major issues at Fort Hood and some families say they have tried to share their concerns for years

Killeen Police Department officials say they reopened Cpl. Christopher Martin Ferguson's 2007 case in September 2020 after receiving numerous phone calls from the family, regarding how the case was initially handled. 

Ferguson's family longs for answers. Christina McDonald is Ferguson's sister. The mom of six considers herself an advocate for families like hers who have lost soldiers. 

"They die and you're just kind of sent on amongst your way to just deal with it and you don't get answers," she said. 

Leaving Ferguson's gravesite, making her way to her Ohio home, McDonald reflected on March 18, 2007. Ferguson was transferred to the hospital and was diagnosed with a closed head injury after an apparent fall from a third story balcony in Killeen. The 21-year-old was declared dead seven days later. 

The Killeen Police Department says Ferguson's case is active, pending finalization of medical paperwork.  

According to the investigation narrative released from the Justice of the Peace at the time, witnesses provided several stories following the incident including an accidental fall, an intentional jump and someone pushing Ferguson. 

"Seeing his injuries does not correlate with someone falling three stories directly to their head," said McDonald. 

According to the casualty report from the Department of the Army, Ferguson's death was an accident, but McDonald believes there is more to the story. 

Raised by a single mother and looked up to as the man of the house, Ferguson's brother entered the U.S. Army in 2004, spent one year in Iraq and was stationed at Fort Hood at the time of his death. 

"Our soldiers need to be a priority," said McDonald. "Somebody needs to get in there and get things cleaned up."