MESQUITE, Texas — The mother of a North Texas soldier who was killed out of state and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Saturday announced a reward totaling $55,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
The soldier, Katia Duenas-Aguilar, 23, of Mesquite was stationed near the Kentucky-Tennessee border in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, At about 8:30 p.m. May 18, police in Clarksville, Tenn. responded to an ambulance call and Aguilar was found dead by police. The incident was since ruled a homicide and police are investigating, according to a press release from Clarksville Police.
LULAC initially announced a $25,000 reward for information in the case Thursday and Saturday, Katia’s mother, Carmen, announced a commitment of an additional $30,000 to the reward fund, bringing it to $55,000.
"LULAC stands with Carmen Aguilar, mother of the young woman, an army soldier serving her country far from home, whose life has been taken, and we must have justice," said LULAC national president Domingo Garcia. "For this mother to commit, not just money but her total soul, to finding whoever did this deserves our complete and unequivocal support. LULAC urges anyone with information to come forward and speak to law enforcement to help identify, arrest, and convict the person responsible.”
Katia, an information technology specialist, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2018. After completing her basic training at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, she was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in 2019.
A member of the Combat Aviation Brigade, she had a long list of awards and commendations, including two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Duenas-Aguilar was a 2018 graduate of North Mesquite High School.
Carmen previously told WFAA that her daughter had told her she planned to come home in May after six years in the Army, but had suddenly stopped communicating with her over the course of the last month.
"LULAC will not rest until our service members who leave their families and homes to go defend our country are safe wherever they live," said Garcia. "Since the killing of U.S. Army Specialist Guillen, LULAC has been working with the Army and the Pentagon to pass and enforce legislation that protects Latino service members and others from military sexual trauma (MST). While we do not yet know the circumstances surrounding Katia's death, we call for a thorough and transparent investigation so that all facts about her killing are brought to light. This is the only way that our communities' trust can be fully restored so that our families will support sending their sons and daughters and loved ones into our armed forces.”
