20/20 Podcast Summary

Episode: Vanished: The Search
Host: John Quinones (ABC News)
Date: September 24, 2025
Theme Overview:
This episode, “The Search,” delves into the disappearance of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen from Fort Hood on April 22, 2020. The podcast reconstructs the immediate aftermath of her disappearance, the responses from friends, family, and military officials, and the swelling public movement that turned Vanessa’s case into a nationwide call for justice – especially regarding sexual harassment in the military.

The Day Vanessa Vanished

• Vanessa Guillen had plans after work
  • On April 22, 2020, Vanessa was supposed to meet up with fellow soldier and friend Tay Hightower to go hiking.
  • Her work assignment that day was expected to end by lunchtime—locating and tagging four broken weapons.
  • Early in the morning, Vanessa and Tay exchange texts about the weather (01:14–01:58).
• Last contact
  • Tay sends Vanessa a message that afternoon but never gets a response. By 5pm, he realizes something is wrong (02:05).
  • Vanessa’s roommate hasn’t seen her since she left; calls to Vanessa’s phone go straight to voicemail (02:27).
  • Her Jeep is still parked on base; her personal items are left behind.

Notable Quote

• Tay Hightower (about his last message to Vanessa):

  "That was the last thing I sent her that afternoon." (01:58)

• Myra Guillen (Vanessa’s sister):

  "We start getting worried. That whole day, I was just not myself." (04:26)

Friends and Family Start the Search

• Tay and CJ Landy (another friend) retrace Vanessa’s steps—to the motor pool, the base’s track, and the arms rooms, but find nothing (03:11–03:18).
• In Houston, Vanessa’s sister Myra and her family realize she’s missing after a day with no contact. After frustrating calls with base officials, they drive to Fort Hood through treacherous weather (04:49–06:24).

Notable Quote

• Myra Guillen:

  "I didn't want to think the worst, but a lot of panic." (06:24)

The Army’s Initial Response

• By the next morning, April 23, Myra and her family finally meet with Fort Hood officials—including First Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Specialist Aaron Robinson (08:23).
• Myra is disturbed by Robinson’s strange demeanor.
  • "He looks at me and he just starts laughing. And I get really upset. I'm like, there's nothing funny about this." (09:48)
• Instead of providing answers, military officials mostly question the family, adding to Myra’s frustration (10:49).

Notable Moments

• Myra describes being “ushered from interview to interview," repeating the same points: Vanessa wouldn’t disappear (11:07).

The Search Grows

• Initially, the Army searches the barracks, outbuildings, motor pools, and nearby Killeen (12:04).
• Vanessa is declared AWOL (Absent Without Leave) on April 24, and the case is handed to the Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
• Multi-agency involvement: CID collaborates with the FBI, Texas Rangers, and Bell County Sheriffs (13:33).

Notable Quote

• Major General Donna Martin (then head of CID):

  "Everyone is working collaboratively, using their resources to help us get to the bottom of this." (13:54)

Early Leads and Frustration

• Robinson (last to see Vanessa) claims she left his arms room after completing her job, then left base; his alibi is partially confirmed by his girlfriend (14:42).
• Three soldiers reported seeing Vanessa upset, walking to the barracks parking lot at 1:30pm, refocusing the investigation—but their story later falls apart under scrutiny (17:12–19:55).

Notable Moments

• Lack of surveillance cameras in the area hampers investigation (18:43–19:02).
• Search dogs and extensive ground searches produce no results (19:45).

Family Pushes for Action

• Myra’s social media post about Vanessa’s disappearance goes viral, helping attract local and regional media attention (23:14).
• The family organizes protests at Fort Hood’s gates; turnout quickly grows from dozens to hundreds (25:46).
• Community, media, and supporters rally with the Guillen family, making it impossible to ignore Vanessa’s case.

Notable Quote

• Myra Guillen (on her viral post):

  "I promise I'm gonna find you, even if it's the last thing I do." (23:14)

• Olivia Laveda (local reporter):

  "Something told me this was bigger than what it seemed." (24:35)

National Outcry and Social Media Campaign

• By early June, the family goes public with allegations of Vanessa’s sexual harassment by a sergeant (30:33).
• The #IamVanessaGuillen hashtag trends nationally. Celebrities (Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Gloria Estefan, Becky G) amplify the case (32:27–32:47).
• Murals, marches, and protests spring up nationwide.

Notable Quote

• Olivia Laveda:

  "That’s when it started trending online with the hashtag iamvanessaguillen. And when I say trending, I mean even with celebrities." (32:27)

• Myra Guillen:

  "It’s like she wanted to tell me, like she wanted to scream it, but she would just tell me, never mind." (30:55)

A Movement Is Born

• Vanessa becomes a symbol for the fight against military sexual harassment, during a summer of national reckoning following the death of George Floyd (35:02-35:59).
• Attorney Natalie Kawam takes the Guillen case, bringing experience in military law and sexual harassment litigation. Her involvement boosts the family's momentum (36:07–37:36).

Notable Quote

• Natalie Kawam:

  "Women should not be afraid to come forth about sexual harassment. They should not fear reporting. It's unacceptable. It's 2020." (37:36)

A Key Break in the Case

• Investigators uncover a crucial clue: two witnesses see Specialist Aaron Robinson moving a very heavy black "tough box" from the building to his car the day Vanessa vanished (39:11).
• In late June, skeletal remains are uncovered in a field in Killeen (39:45).
• The episode ends with a promise to explore these developments further in the next installment.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 01:05–03:18: Last day Vanessa was seen, friend’s search
• 04:26–06:24: Family’s discovery and immediate reaction
• 08:23–10:49: Right after arriving at Fort Hood – meeting Army officials, Robinson’s suspicious behavior
• 13:33–15:08: Search expands, CID and federal agencies involved
• 17:12–19:55: Timeline, false leads, lack of security footage
• 23:14–26:39: Viral social media response, protests begin
• 30:33–32:47: Sexual harassment revelations, national outcry
• 36:07–37:36: Family gets attorney, legal and public pressure ramps up
• 39:11–39:45: Critical break: Robinson and the “tough box,” human remains found

Notable and Memorable Quotes

• Tay Hightower, on that afternoon:

  "That was the last thing I sent her that afternoon." (01:58)

• Myra Guillen (on army response):

  "It's already been more than six hours. Why haven't you done anything?" (04:49)

• Myra Guillen (on Robinson):

  "He looks at me and he just starts laughing...there's nothing funny about this." (09:48)

• Major General Donna Martin:

  "Everyone is working collaboratively, using their resources to help us get to the bottom of this." (13:54)

• Olivia Laveda (on viral moment):

  "That’s when it started trending online with the hashtag iamvanessaguillen." (32:27)

• Natalie Kawam:

  "Women should not be afraid to come forth about sexual harassment... It's unacceptable. It's 2020." (37:36)

Tone and Feel

The episode is urgent, empathetic, and persistent, echoing the emotion and frustration felt by Vanessa’s family and friends. It weaves personal accounts and investigative reporting, gradually tightening focus on Army procedures, accountability gaps, and the broader issues of justice and systemic change.

In Summary

This episode not only reconstructs the critical days surrounding Vanessa Guillen's disappearance and the subsequent investigation, but also illustrates how one case galvanized a movement—pushing the military’s approach to sexual harassment and missing persons into the national spotlight. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with new evidence surfacing and the search for justice continuing.