HOUSTON — Last year, the disappearance of Specialist Vanessa Guillen rocked the nation and the hearts of Texans.
We witnessed communities across the country come together in search of hope and answers. On June 30, 2020, that search came to a devastating end in Bell County, Texas, where Guillen’s remains were found nearly two months later.
Protests, marches, and murals were amplified nationwide in Guillen’s honor. In Houston, a family reflects on the bright shining light that was Vanessa Guillen. She was a loving daughter, a friend, and for Lupe and Maya Guillen, a sister.
“She was a very admirable person. She was my inspiration to stay in school and do my best. Everything I’ve done is for her,” said Lupe Guillen.
The sisters looked back on the final moments they shared with Vanessa Guillen at their home in Houston the night she left for Fort Hood.
Mayra Guillen recalls wanting Vanessa Guillen to stay longer.
"I actually wanted to spend some time with her,” she said.
Lupe Guillen says she remembers saying “I love you.”
"Out of nowhere, I said I love you and I never said it to her,” said Lupe Guillen
The night ended with hugs and with Mayra Guillen telling Vanessa Guillen to be safe and to call if she needed anything. Just a few days later, Mayra Guillen tells us, she realized something was wrong.
“We keep in touch. Vanessa knows, knew that calls were important. I remember sitting at the dinner table telling my dad, ‘I don’t know how to tell you guys this but Vanessa hasn’t called all day and I have a really bad feeling about it.’ And that’s when my dad stated… I felt very bad at work today. My mom was also very anxious so it all came together and it was best to me to head out there to see what was going on,” said Mayra Guillen.
That night, Mayra Guillen made the trip to Killeen, not realizing it would be the first of many trips in search of her sister. Sadly, the nationwide search came to an end in Bell County, near the Leon River, on June 30, 2020.
“June 30th it’s a very significant date for me. That’s actually the day of my birthday. And to get those calls was unexpected. I had already made up my mind that there was a low chance of finding her alive,” recalled Mayra Guillen
Vanessa Guillen’s death sparked a movement for soldiers in the U.S. Military who were victims of sexual harassment, with her family leading the charge.
“Her face. Being that beautiful the army was not for her. I know she was being harassed by someone higher up and that’s why she did not want to speak up,” said Lupe Guillen
The Guillen family is backing Texas Senate Bill 623 also known as the "I Am Vanessa Guillen Act.”
If passed, the bill would establish independent investigators and prosecutors for members of the military. This will allow victims to report sexual harassment and assault, without fear of retaliation or being silenced. The I Am Vanessa Guillen Act will also give victims the right to sue their aggressor.
Lupe Guillen believes her sister didn’t speak up about being harassed because she feared nothing would happen.
On the one-year anniversary of Vanessa Guillen’s death, Mayra and Lupe say, they will continue their fight for changes in the military in honor of their late sister.
“We’re not going to rest until the bill passes because it’s unfair for soldiers to keep suffering the way my sister suffered,” said Lupe Guillen.
