‘Say her name’: Mayor Ron Nirenberg adds flowers to local Vanessa Guillén tribute
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San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg added a bouquet of white roses to a tribute set up on the South Side in honor of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén on Sunday.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg added a bouquet of white roses to a tribute set up on the South Side in honor of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén on Sunday.
Photo: Twitter, Ron Nirenberg
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg added a bouquet of white roses to a tribute set up on the South Side in honor of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén on Sunday.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg added a bouquet of white roses to a tribute set up on the South Side in honor of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén on Sunday.
Photo: Twitter, Ron Nirenberg
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg added a bouquet of white roses to a tribute on the city’s South Side in honor of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén on Sunday.
She “deserved so much more,” he wrote online.
RELATED: Investigators: Fort Hood soldier bludgeoned Vanessa Guillén to death on post
The remains of Guillén, 20, were positively identified on Sunday, more than two months after she vanished from Fort Hood.
The search for the Houston native, as well as her family’s allegations of sexual harassment, sparked national attention from activists, lawmakers and celebrities. On June 30, her remains were found in a shallow grave along the Leon River. A manhunt ensued and Army Specialist Aaron David Robinson, the suspect tied to her disappearance, killed himself as officers confronted him.
According to court documents filed by the FBI, Robinson bludgeoned Guillén to death with a hammer on base, then carried her body to the river. Once there, he and his girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, dismembered and buried the body, investigators say.
Marches, vigils and memorials have been organized in the days since the remains were found, as millions have watched Guillén’s mother and sister’s impassioned pleas for justice.
Stephanie Melchor and Tracy Talavera organized the shrine at Cafe Azteca, at 359 Bustillo Drive over the weekend to give San Antonians the opportunity to pay tribute to the slain soldier.
Nirenberg topped the heap of flowers left by mourners with his bouquet. He thanked Melchor and Talavera for arranging the tribute.
“When our troops enter into harm’s way, it’s meant to be much farther than home. Vanessa was ready to devote her life to our country, but instead it was stolen,” he wrote online with a pair of photos. “Say her name, pray that her family receives peace and justice, and let’s commit to eradicating violence against women in every form.”
Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | [email protected] | @maddyskye
