In separate interviews, both of Basaldua's parents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of information provided by military authorities. This silence serves as a reminder of the troubling history of Fort Hood, which recorded the second-highest suicide rate in 2022.
The recent death of Basaldua occurred three years after the murder of Vanessa Guillén, who went missing for two months before her dismembered body was discovered near the base. Prior to her murder, Guillén had reported being sexually harassed by a fellow soldier, but no action was taken. The same soldier went on to kill her with a hammer and subsequently took his own life. Following the murder, 21 officers were subjected to disciplinary action.
An independent panel investigating Fort Hood found that the base was "tolerant of sexual harassment and assault." The panel gathered testimony from 507 women, resulting in 93 accounts of alleged sexual crimes, only 59 of which were reported. Regarding sexual harassment, the panel found 135 credible cases, but only 72 had been reported to the authorities. The rate of sexual crimes at Fort Hood is 75% higher than that of other army bases. Additionally, over the past five years, the CID has launched investigations into 50 suicides and 11 murders at the military base.
Basaldua resided in Long Beach, a city located in Southern California. She joined the army in 2020 after relocating from Michoacán, Mexico. Due to the pandemic, her military training was postponed and only commenced in July 2021. At the conclusion of her training, she was assigned to the 91st Engineer Battalion, which is part of the 1st Cavalry Division.
The base released a statement saying, "The Army Criminal Investigation Division and the chain of command are currently investigating the details and events surrounding her death."