Authorities in Texas are looking for another missing Fort Hood soldier amid a tumultuous period for the base that includes multiple service providers who are dying.
Sgt. Elder Fernandes, a 23-year-old chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, has not been heard from his family since Sunday, prompting her to report two days later, according to a statement from the Killeen police department on Thursday and comments made by family members to ABC News Friday.
His mother, Ailina Fernandes, and aunt, Isabel Fernandes, told ABC News in a telephone interview that he was recently hospitalized but discharged Monday. Both his mother and aunt said they talked to him on the phone while he was in the hospital, but he did not say much about why he was there.
Fernandes was last seen Monday afternoon by his staff sergeant when he was fired during a stay at the 2700 block of Woodlands Drive in Killeen, police said. His aunt said she spoke to his friends, who told her that where the sergeant dropped him off was not where he lived.
His mother traveled from Massachusetts to Texas on Wednesday to look for her son. She said she went to base with police and found his car, with his belongings still inside. Fernandes also had a new apartment waiting to be relocated with paid utilities, but he never picked up the key, according to his mother.
Fort Hood is involved in the search.
“Our primary concern is for his health and well-being,” the Fort Hood statement on Thursday read, in part. “We have completed a search of the entire division area, including motor poles, parking lots, and headquarters buildings, and the unit is in contact with the Soldiers Family, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and civil law enforcement agencies to assist him in finding us. continue our search. “
In an updated statement on Friday, Fort Hood said that based on information gathered from fellow soldiers, “he may have left Fort Hood on his own manpower.”
The statement also said Fernandes did not report Monday to plan as planned, and that his only known car was parked near Fort Hood, in the parking lot of his unit.
Fernandes’ aunt told ABC News that the army did not provide much useful information.
“I think the police are helping, but the army is not so much,” she said. “They can’t give answers. Everything is like pulling teeth to get information from them.”
The mother of the missing man agreed.
“I can not access information. The army does not give information to anyone. That I try to see if the lawyer gets in touch with them and more senior people, they will be able to give us some information because they know,” he said. sei se.
The Army has not responded to ABC News’ follow-up questions regarding the case.
The Fernandes family has retained a lawyer, Natalie Khawam, who is also the lawyer for the family of Vanessa Guillen, who was missing from Fort Hood in late April and whose remains were discovered months later at the base.
Fernandes’ disappearance comes after a difficult month for Fort Hood.
Pvt. Mejhor Morta, a 26-year-old Fort Hood soldier, was found dead on July 17 in a reservoir of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said government officials and local police. Investigators said he probably drowned.
About two weeks earlier, on July 1, human remains had been discovered at Fort Hood and subsequently identified as Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier who had been missing since late April. A suspect in the case, 20-year-old Army specialist Aaron Robinson, died by suicide when officials closed in on him. Another suspect, Cecily Aguilar (22), Robinson’s girlfriend, is accused of helping Guillen’s body. She was accused of one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence and pleaded not guilty.
On June 19, skeletal remains were found at Fort Hood, following an anonymous tip, later identified as Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, who was last seen on August 19, 2019. Investigators suspect foul play, according to KTRK.
Fernandes wore black army shorts, a T-shirt and red athletic shoes at the time he was last seen. Anyone with information about Fernandes is asked to contact the Fort Hood Military Police at (254) 288-1170, US Army CID at (254) 287-2722, or the Killeen Police Department at (254) 200-7905.
ABC News’ Luis Martinez contributed to this report.
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