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For the first time since her death, the family of Katia Duenas-Aguilar, a Mesquite soldier found murdered near her base along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, has spoken out.
On Saturday, Duenas-Aguilar’s family, alongside LULAC, announced an increased reward for information leading to an arrest in her case.
“We want to know what happened, who did it, and we want to ensure that the person or people responsible are brought to justice,” said AnaLuisa Carillo-Tapia of LULAC.
The 23-year-old soldier was discovered murdered in a home in Clarksville, Tennessee, on May 17. She had been stationed at Fort Campbell, near where her body was found, since 2019.
“I feel like she was gone for too long, and I didn’t get to enjoy more time with her,” said her sister, Cecilia Ruiz-Aguilar.
Ruiz-Aguilar and her mother, Carmen Aguilar, announced that the family is contributing $30,000 to the reward, raising it to a total of $55,000.
Overcome with emotion, they shared that Duenas-Aguilar had recently made the unexpected decision to re-enlist.
“She had told my mom that she was going to come back, that we were going to see her in May,” said Ruiz-Aguilar.
Earlier this week, the Army’s 101st Airborne Division released a statement expressing their shock over the private first class’s death.
The Army’s criminal investigation division is assisting local police, but the family said they have not yet seen her body and are left with many unanswered questions.
When asked if the person responsible for the murder might also be military, Carmen Aguilar said, “I don’t know, but they have reason to look because she’s not the first one.”
LULAC, recalling the murder of Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood, is standing by the family and calling for high-level officials to join the investigation.
Additionally, the family is petitioning for joint custody of Duenas-Aguilar’s 4-year-old son.