Missing Fort Hood Sergeant Elder N. Fernandes was the victim of the suspected “abused sexual contact” before he disappeared Monday, an Army spokesman confirmed to CBS News. The 23-year-old was last seen Monday by members of his unit at a residence in Killeen, Texas.
“The Sexual Assault Response Coordinator worked closely with Sgt Fernandes, making sure he was aware of all of his reporting, care and victim options,” a 1st Cavalry Division official said in a statement, and added that he was transferred to another unit within his brigade “to ensure he received the proper care and to ensure that there were no opportunities for reprisals.”
The army base has had to deal with control after several Texas facility soldiers went missing or died this year – including specialist Vanessa Guillen, whose remains were discovered nearly seven weeks ago.
The Army Criminal Investigation Department asked the public on Friday for help, tweeting a flyer and describing Fernandes. Soldiers have indicated that Fernandes may leave the base of his own property, according to the army. Fernandes did not report them on Tuesday as planned, and his only known car was at the base in his unit’s parking lot, the military said.
The 1st Calvary Division said they did not suspect a foul scene and that they were “fully committed to finding him and guaranteeing his well-being.”
Fernandes, who is black, was last seen wearing a black army training shirt and black army shorts wearing black, orange and yellow athletic shoes, the army said in a press release.
“We are very concerned about the well-being of this Soldier and first we want to make sure he is in order,” said Christopher Gray, a spokesman for the Criminal Investigation Command. “If anyone has information in it, no matter how trivial you may think it is, we ask you to contact us immediately.”
Fort Hood did not return a request for comment from CBS News.
The death of Specialist Vanessa Guillen, whose remains were identified in July, has led an independent investigation into the army base. Guillen is believed to have been murdered by another soldier who later died by suicide.
Several Fort Hood soldiers have died at or near the base this year. Foul play is not excluded in many of the cases, officials said earlier this month.
Specialist Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, 24, died in a boating accident on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservation at the Fort Hood base on August 2. Private Mejhor Morta, 26, was found unresponsive on July 17 in the same area.
On March 9, specialist Christopher Wayne Sawyer, 29, was found unresponsive during his stay at the base and died later. The skeletal remains of private Gregory Scott Morales, 24, who disappeared last August, were found on June 19.
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