Body Of Missing Fort Hood Soldier Elder Fernandes Found A Week After Disappearance

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Sgt. Elder Fernandes was last seen by members of his unit on Aug. 17.

U.S. Army via AP

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U.S. Army via AP

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«We are heartbroken for Elder Fernandes’ family and sickened by this tragedy that has happened too many times at Fort Hood,» she said, alluding to a string of recent deaths and disappearances involving soldiers at the base.

Khawam also represents the family of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who went missing in April and whose remains were identified in July. Her family says she was the target of sexual harassment. Army officials said that one suspect in the case killed himself, and another was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

Guillen was the third service member from the base to be found dead this summer. And in her statement, Khawam said Fernandes is the thirteenth Fort Hood soldier to have «vanished or been killed» this year.

In its statement, Fort Hood said there was no connection between Fernandes’ disappearance and any other ongoing cases at the base.

Last month, Khawam and the Guillen family introduced the #IAmVanessaGuillen bill, which would allow active duty service members to file claims of sexual harassment and assault to an outside third party.

Also in July, the army named a five-person civilian panel to conduct a review of the culture at Fort Hood.

Fernandes, who was born in Cape Verde in West Africa, joined the Army in Sept. 2016. He was a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade.

• Mysterious death
• Vanessa Guillen
• Fort Hood