For the past two months, the family of a Mesquite soldier has been grappling with unanswered questions following a tragic incident near Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
On May 17, Private First-Class Katia Duenas Aguilar was found murdered in her home by police in Clarksville, Tennessee.
“It’s been really devastating for us, especially since my sister was always a bright presence,” shared Cecilia Ruiz Aguilar from her sister’s graveside in Mesquite on Tuesday.
Reflecting on a recently released autopsy report, which revealed that the 23-year-old had sustained 68 stab wounds to her neck and upper body, Ruiz Aguilar expressed deep anger and confusion.
“I felt incredibly angry. My mom felt the same way. We just can’t comprehend why this happened. Katia wasn’t the type to have enemies or hold grudges,” she lamented.
At the time of her tragic death, the Army’s 101st Airborne Division expressed shock and sorrow over Duenas Aguilar’s loss.
Local authorities, including Army CID Special Agents and the Clarksville Police Department’s Special Homicide Unit, continue to actively pursue leads in the case.
Last month, The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) joined the family in offering a $55,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.
“We simply want justice above all else. That’s our sole focus right now,” Ruiz Aguilar emphasized.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tips Line at (931) 645-8477 or online at https://P3tips.com/591.
