Two individuals, including the spouse of a military servicewoman who was found brutally murdered in her Tennessee residence, have been indicted in connection with her death, according to law enforcement officials. Army Private First Class Katia Duenas Aguilar was found deceased in her Clarksville home on Tiny Town Road on May 18. She was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, a short distance from her home.
The Clarksville Police Department announced on Saturday that a Montgomery County Grand Jury had indicted Reynaldo Salinas Cruz, the 40-year-old husband of the deceased, and Sofia Rodas, 35, on charges related to Duenas Aguilar’s death. Rodas is facing charges of first-degree murder, while both she and Cruz are accused of tampering with evidence. The authorities have yet to disclose a motive for the gruesome killing.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Duenas Aguilar had been stabbed 68 times, predominantly in the neck area, as reported by Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN. The report also indicated that she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.161 and traces of GHB, a substance commonly associated with date rape, in her system. The cause of death was officially ruled as homicide.
The case was presented to the December session of the Montgomery County grand jury. At the time of the indictment, both suspects were already in federal custody on unrelated charges. According to military news outlet Task & Purpose, these charges are linked to marriage fraud.
Duenas Aguilar left behind a 4-year-old son. Her father, Carmen Aguilar, expressed his grief to local NBC affiliate WSMV, stating that his grandson misses his mother and is slowly realizing that she will not return. He also expressed his desire for justice for his daughter.
The victim’s sister, Cecilia, described Duenas Aguilar as a bright and warm presence, and expressed her struggle with the loss. Duenas Aguilar, originally from Mesquite, Texas, was a member of the 101st Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade and had joined the Army in 2018. Both Rodas and Cruz are currently held at the Montgomery County Jail.