Crews resume search for Fort Hood soldier missing for 2 months
KILLEEN, Texas -- A search for a 20-year-old Texas soldier who has been missing for two months has continued.
Texas EquuSearch, a search and rescue group dedicated to searching for missing persons, had spent the last few days looking for Private Vanessa Guillen, a soldier from Houston who's stationed in Fort Hood.
This was the fifth time crews had come out to the location.
The group had called off a search Thursday after founder Tim Miller said they searched everywhere that was "significant." They returned to Killeen Friday after receiving new information from investigators.
It remains unclear what new information was learned.
Guillen's disappearance is being treated as a criminal investigation after she went missing April 22, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said Tuesday at a news conference with the solider's family.
"We don't want just attention. We want action. We want answers," Garcia said Tuesday. "We've got to remember that this is a family that is hurting."
WATCH: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia on Vanessa Guillen case
Garcia, a Democrat representing Texas's 29th congressional district, and Guillen's family met with Army leaders to discuss the investigation into the disappearance of the 20-year-old Fort Hood soldier.
In a statement sent to ABC13 Tuesday night, the U.S. Army confirmed foul play is suspected.
"As we have stated from the day we opened a very extensive investigation on 23 April, we have not ruled anything in or out and are looking at all possibilities," read the statement. "At this point, and after the results of investigative information that has been developed in the last few days, we suspect foul play in the disappearance of PFC Vanessa Guillen."
Fort Hood Deputy Commander Major General Scott Efflandt appeared in a video Sunday evening, pleading for the public's help to find Guillen.
"We want to bring Vanessa home as efficiently and as rapidly as possible. And towards that end, I'm asking for your assistance," Efflandt said. "We need to bring Vanessa back to her Army family and to bring her back to her family, and we won't stop this effort until we're successful."
According to investigators, Guillen's car keys, barracks room key, ID and wallet were found in the armory room where she was working on the base on the day she disappeared.
The attorney for Guillen's family, Natalie Khawam, said she's discovered at least two alleged incidents of sexual harassment -- a superior walking in on Guillen showering and another verbally assaulting Guillen with vulgar remarks in Spanish. Khawam said she's worried about how this case might turn out. She said Vanessa told loved ones she didn't want to report the sexual harassment out of fear of retaliation.
Fort Hood said anyone with information about Guillen is urged to call 254-495-7767. A $50,000 reward is being offered for information as well.
The base said it is already grieving the loss of one soldier, referring to Private Gregory Morales, who had been missing since Aug. 2019.
Morales' remains were found near Fort Hood over the weekend. Officials say foul play is suspected.
Despite social media rumors, authorities do not believe the two cases are related.
Officials are also asking for information in the investigation into Morales' death and said the public can contact Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477 or submit an online tip via their website.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
