Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa

Episode 5: Why?

ABC News – Released: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, titled "Why?", delves deeply into the final hours of the investigation into Vanessa Guillén’s disappearance and murder, centering on the two suspects: Specialist Aaron Robinson and his girlfriend Cecily Aguilar. The episode explores the chaotic night Robinson escaped and died, the subsequent legal pursuit of Aguilar, and the search for answers and justice by Vanessa’s family. The central, haunting question—why Vanessa was killed—remains painfully unresolved, even as the court process concludes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Aaron Robinson’s Escape and Death

• June 30, 2020: Robinson was confined, but not officially arrested, in a conference room at Fort Hood after Vanessa’s remains were discovered that day.
  • He was held for breaking COVID-19 protocol, not for murder.
  • [01:33]: “Gives chase, but he gets in a vehicle and he flees and he leaves Fort Hood.” – A
  • Authorities failed to recognize Robinson as a key suspect and didn’t arrest him in time.
• Robinson fled, abandoned his vehicle, and moved through Killeen, Texas, communicating with Cecily Aguilar, who was cooperating with law enforcement and luring him for arrest.
• [02:35]: “Aguilar is trying to help investigators locate him. He's somewhere in Killeen, Texas, and Aguilar at that point is trying to pinpoint his location, trying to meet with him so investigators can move in and arrest him.” – Steve Campion
• By early morning, police confronted Robinson. He drew a pistol and shot himself before he could be arrested.
  • [05:35]: “The man points the pistol at the officer and then at his own head. A single shot rings out, and Specialist Aaron Robinson falls slowly to the ground.” – B

The Army’s Investigative Failures

• Former FBI agent Chris Swecker, who led the independent Fort Hood review, criticized the Army's decision not to immediately arrest Robinson.
  • [07:26]: “From my experience, there was enough probable cause at that point to arrest him… you have to scratch your head if you're an experienced investigator and wonder why.” – Chris Swecker
• The Army acknowledged in later reports that communication failures allowed Robinson to escape and ultimately evade justice by taking his own life.
• Robinson's death meant the central question—why Vanessa was murdered—became even harder to answer.

Attempting to Answer Why

• Investigators revisited the scene of the murder and found Vanessa’s blood, confirming evidence connecting Robinson to her death.
• Exploring Robinson's background, he’s described as a loner with possible mental health concerns.
  • [12:27]: “Almost like an oddball trying to fit in, more or less. If fitting in was his goal, it probably didn't help that he was going out with Cecily Aguilar, the estranged wife of another soldier.” – B
  • Cecily described Robinson as sometimes deeply withdrawn, even talking about suicide.
• Alleged Motive: Robinson reportedly told Cecily that he killed Vanessa because she saw a picture of Cecily on his phone and feared Vanessa would tell the chain of command about their affair.
  • [13:46]: “Specialist Robinson told her that he did what he did. He killed Vanessa because she saw a picture on his cell phone of her, and he feared that she would go to the chain of command and get him in trouble. Trouble for having an affair.” – Maj. Gen. Donna Martin
• The Army noted that while adultery is illegal, it is rarely prosecuted, and Vanessa didn't have the power to further jeopardize Robinson—casting doubt on this explanation.
  • Myra Guillen (Vanessa's sister) speculated about alternative motives, including possible sexual assault, though official investigations "found no credible evidence" for this.

Cecily Aguilar’s Role and Sentencing

• The episode traces Cecily Aguilar's troubled background: foster care, periods of homelessness, and feeling isolated and manipulated.
  • [19:45]: Aaron Clough describes Cecily: “She said that she always stuck to herself. She was quiet… pretty sure she had mentioned a couple times where she just wanted to run away. She hated it.”
• Cecily was indicted on 11 federal charges but eventually pleaded guilty to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of making false statements.
• Her Defense: Cecily’s attorneys argued her history of trauma and manipulation by Robinson left her vulnerable and unable to resist his demands.
  • [31:39]: “So her defense attorneys basically wanted to paint this picture of Cecily having a very troubled childhood… was basically in a position where she could be manipulated by somebody that she cared deeply about.” – C
• The Prosecution’s Argument: Severity of the crime and Cecily’s repeated falsehoods merited the maximum punishment.
  • [32:14]: “A lot of people experience a lot of horrible things, but not everybody goes and dismember bodies, not everybody goes and lies to police.” – C

The Shocking Court Evidence

• During sentencing, prosecutors introduced disturbing evidence:
  • Interrogation footage showing Cecily’s repeated lies.
  • Testimony that suggested Robinson had committed necrophilic acts with Vanessa’s corpse—supported by his phone search history and jail statements from Cecily.
    • [29:27]: “There were these really vile allegations that Robinson had not just mutilated the body… but had done something really vile…” – C
• The courtroom was left shaken by these revelations.
  • [30:26]: “It was silence, right? You could have heard a pin drop. It was as if, like, it couldn't get worse. And then you threw on that detail and you're like, all right, that's the worst it possibly could get.” – C

Family’s Experience and Reflections

• Victim impact statements were delivered by Vanessa’s family, especially her mother, Gloria, who described her daughter’s suffering and stressed her faith and hope for justice.
  • [33:12]: “Divine justice does exist, and God exists, and he's alive because I'm here standing upright…”
• Cecily addressed the family, expressing remorse and asking for forgiveness, but her statements were considered unsatisfying and inadequate by the Guillen family.
  • [34:45]: “I'm hoping to convey my sincerest apologies to the Guillen family… I own up to my actions in the crime and I do take responsibility. …I pray that God will give you all the comfort and strength…” – Cecily Aguilar
  • [35:59]: “In the end, when Cecily spoke directly to us, I didn't really pay much attention to her words… I find it hard to believe that those words had any meaning, had any remorse. So I didn't really bother to, to even think about the, the option of forgiving her. I don't think there's forgiveness for any of that.” – Myra Guillen
• Cecily was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

One Final, Private Act of Forgiveness

• After sentencing, Vanessa’s mother, Gloria, asked to meet Cecily privately in court.
  • [38:15]: “Mom told me that Cecily asked her for forgiveness, and my mom told her that she was forgiven… It gives her closure and helps her heal.” – Myra Guillen
• Cecily reportedly told Gloria she wished she'd had a mother like her.

Continuing Questions

• The core question—why did Aaron Robinson kill Vanessa Guillén?—remains unanswered.
  • [37:53]: “The question of why Aaron did this, that's the question that haunts the family. That's the question that haunts anybody who's covered this story. I don't think we're ever going to have the answer to that question.” – C
• The Guillen family continue to search for answers and justice, as well as to promote systemic changes to protect others.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Army’s failure:
  • [07:26]: “It's a Major mistake on the part of the army in not arresting him or confining him.” – Chris Swecker
• On the tragedy’s emotional toll:
  • [26:28]: “There was a lot of anger, a lot of sadness, a lot of tears.” – Myra Guillen
• On the courtroom’s shock:
  • [30:26]: “It was silence, right? You could have heard a pin drop. It was as if, like, it couldn't get worse. And then you threw on that detail and you're like, all right, that's the worst…” – Steve Campion
• On the enigmatic motive:
  • [15:27]: “We don't know what the motive was…He may have taken that motive with him to his grave.” – James McPherson, Army Undersecretary
• On healing and faith:
  • [33:12]: “Divine justice does exist, and God exists, and he's alive because I'm here standing upright.” – Gloria Guillen
  • [38:15]: “She wished she would have had a mother like my mom, someone that would have proudly mentored her in the right path in life, showed her what love was.” – Myra Guillen

Notable Timestamps

• Robinson’s escape and death: 00:29 – 06:53
• Army’s investigative failures: 06:53 – 10:47
• Exploring Robinson's and Cecily's backgrounds: 10:47 – 21:23
• Cecily’s plea, sentencing, and shocking evidence: 22:28 – 30:44
• Victim impact statements and family responses: 33:12 – 36:40
• Final private act of forgiveness: 37:53 – 39:17

Conclusion

“Why?” is a wrenching, comprehensive look at the tragic and complex case of Vanessa Guillén, the heartbreak her family endures, and the failure of military institutions to offer protection and accountability. The episode lays bare the devastating consequences of investigative lapses and the endless agony of not knowing “why.” Closure, such as it is, comes in the form of sentencing—and for some, an effort to forgive—but the most pressing questions, about motive and prevention, linger for both the family and the nation.