Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
Related Articles
From Fort Campbell, Kentucky, came distressing news on Tuesday.
Both Army officials and local law enforcement are conducting investigations into the death of 101st Airborne soldier Katia Duenas-Aguilar, treating it as a homicide. The 23-year-old Private First Class hailed from Mesquite.
“My heart just sank,” said Hector Montez.
Montez served alongside Duenes-Aguilar on the Kentucky-Tennessee border for two years. As a fellow Texan, he recalled how she mentored him.
“She was always so positive and outgoing. You could ask anyone; she was the heart of the unit,” he remarked.
On Tuesday, the Army issued a statement expressing shock over Duenas-Aguilar’s death. They pledged to fully cooperate with both Army and local law enforcement in the investigation.
The statement highlighted Duenas-Aguilar’s entry into active-duty Army service as an Information Technology Specialist in 2018, along with her receipt of several awards and commendations.
Last Friday, authorities in Clarksville, Tennessee, discovered Duenes-Aguilar’s body in a residence off the base after an ambulance call around 8:30 p.m.
“I can’t even find the words to express how I feel because it still feels so unreal to me. I just can’t wrap my head around it, and I can’t fathom why something like this would happen to such a good person,” Montez lamented.
Law enforcement has not disclosed further details, including information about potential suspects, but they are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
While the Army has not indicated whether they suspect other soldiers in the case, they have confirmed the involvement of the Army Criminal Investigations Division.