Disturbing details continue to emerge about the brutal slaying of a 23-year-old Fort Campbell soldier who was stabbed 68 times in her off-base Tennessee apartment.
Private First-Class Katia Duenas-Aguilar, originally from Mesquite, Texas, was found dead on May 18 in her off-base apartment near Fort Campbell in Kentucky where she was stationed.
The Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office told Newsweek a sharp object inflicted 55 stab wounds and 13 incised wounds. Of those, 39 were on the right side of her neck, eight on the left, with others found on her upper back, shoulders and scalp.
A toxicology report was also conducted and it concluded there was ethanol and Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in her system.
US Army Fort Campbell
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid is a central nervous system depressant occurring naturally in the body and is often used in a medical context for its anesthetic properties. It has gained notoriety for its misuse as a recreational drug and is associated with cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault.
She also recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.161—well above the legal driving limit of 0.08—which significantly impairs motor skills, judgment, and reaction times.
A BAC of 0.161 can lead to severe impairment, increasing the risk of accidents and making it dangerous to operate a vehicle or perform other tasks.
What Happened?
Police responded to an ambulance call to The Centre apartment complex at 925 Tiny Town Road around 8:30 p.m. on May 18, according to the Clarksville Police Department.
Authorities found Duenas-Aguilar dead inside the residence and determined the manner of death was homicide.
Google Maps
The next day, Army Criminal Investigation Division agents informed the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) they were working with the Clarksville Police Department on an active investigation into the death of the Fort Campbell soldier.
“We are stunned by the death of Pfc. Duenas-Aguilar,” Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, a spokesperson for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, told Newsweek. “In the meantime, we will continue to cooperate with Army and local investigative authorities on this matter.”
Newsweek reached out to the Clarksville Police Department, however they indicated they do not have new information to release at this time.
According to the 101st Airborne Division’s statement, the League of United Latin American Citizens announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Duenas-Aguilar’s family is offering an additional $30,000.
Anyone with information about Duenas Aguilar’s death should contact Det. Hofinga at (931) 648-0656, ext. 5720. To remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward, contact the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tips Line at (931) 645-8477.
Newsweek reached out to The Centre Apartment Homes, where Duenas Aguilar lived, but they declined to comment on the soldier.
Who was Katia Duenas-Aguilar?
Duenas-Aguilar was a 23-year-old from Mesquite, Texas.
She joined the army as an information technology specialist in 2018, according to the Air Assault’s public affairs office.
Duenas-Aguilar had completed basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia prior to reporting to Fort Campbell in 2019.
She was well awarded and commended for her work, according to the Air Assault.
Duenas-Aguilar had been honored with 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.
The North Mesquite High School Choir posted a remembrance post to honor Duenas-Aguilar, an alum.
“Katia loved people and loved to spread joy,” the post reads. “Her spirit and smile were true gifts.”
She had a 4-year-old son who was away in Tennessee. Duenas-Aguilar’s mother said she was trying to have shared custody of the child.
Newsweek reached out to Duenas-Aguilar’s friends and family, however, they have not yet responded.
Another Dead Soldier
Another soldier from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell was found dead this week.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers found John Michael Jackson’s body in Kentucky Lake around 6:30 p.m. on September 27 after a dayslong search.
Henry County Sheriff’s Office
Two days earlier, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an abandoned vehicle on the crest of the Paris Landing bridge. Officers arrived, found personal belongings inside, and began investigating, suspecting the driver, Jackson, had jumped from the bridge.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jackson family and we hope the recovery provides a sense of closure to the family,” the department said in a press release.
Newsweek reached out to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the 101st Airborne Division, however, they have not yet responded.
Fort Campbell’s history
Fort Campbell is a prominent U.S. Army base located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Named after Brigadier General William Bowen Campbell, a Civil War veteran and former governor of Tennessee, the base is home to the renowned 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), known as the “Screaming Eagles.”
Fort Campbell features extensive training facilities, airfields, and housing for soldiers and their families. Its strategic location, approximately 60 miles northwest of Nashville and 40 miles northeast of Clarksville, allows for efficient access to training areas and transportation routes.
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