An autopsy has determined that a soldier with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who was found murdered in her off-base home in May had been stabbed nearly 70 times, according to a local newspaper report.
Pfc. Katia Dueñas Aguilar, 23, was found in her Clarksville, Tennessee, home just outside of the base on May 18, and her mother posted a reward and begged the public for leads in the unsolved case. She is survived by her 4-year-old son.
Authorities have made no arrests, or released the names of any suspects. Dueñas Aguilar was stabbed 68 times on her upper body and neck, according to reporting from the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, a local news outlet that obtained a copy of the autopsy report.
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The autopsy also concluded that she had gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB, in her system and a blood alcohol content of 0.161. GHB is commonly used as a street drug, can cause memory loss and drowsiness, and has been used in sexual assaults, giving it a reputation as a “date rape” drug.
A native of the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, Texas, Dueñas Aguilar enlisted into the Army in 2018 as an information technology specialist and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade.
In total, a $55,000 reward has been offered for information that could lead to the arrest of her killer. Part of the reward is backed by her mother, Carmen Aguilar, and $30,000 of it came from the League of United Latin American Citizens, according to a press release from the group in May.
Dueñas Aguilar was set to be removed from the service in early May after using marijuana. But due to her good behavior, solid performance and her wanting to continue her service, she was allowed to stay in, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation. Soldiers may be removed for minor drug infractions, but allowing them to stay is often seen as a sign of exceptional behavior and service.
Dueñas Aguilar was buried in May with military honors at a funeral near Dallas.
During her service in the Army, Dueñas Aguilar earned 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.
Fort Campbell sits on the Kentucky-Tennessee border and is home to the prestigious 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), including some 30,000 soldiers. It’s among the most high-profile installations in the Army’s portfolio.
Law enforcement is asking anyone with information about Dueñas Aguilar’s death to contact the Clarksville Police Department at 931-648-0656. The anonymous tip line is 931-645-8477. Tips can also be submitted online at this link.
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