Another Fort Hood soldier has been reported missing and the US Army is asking for the public’s help.
According to NBC News, Sgt. Elder Fernandes was last seen on Monday (Aug. 17) when his sergeant reportedly dropped him off at his home. On Thursday night (Aug. 20), the Army issued a missing soldier alert.
“Our primary concern is for his health and well-being,” the Army said in the alert. “We have completed a search of the entire division area, to include motorpools, parking lots, and headquarters buildings and the unit is in contact with the Soldier’s Family, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and civilian law enforcement agencies to help find him as we continue our search.”
Fernandes’ mother says her son was in the hospital a few days prior to his disappearance. Ailiana Fernandes says it’s unclear why her son was there. She traveled to Fort Hood from Massachusetts to get answers about her son’s whereabouts. “As of right now, I’m not getting any answers,” she told the outlet.
Killeen police say Fernandes was last seen wearing wearing black Army physical training shorts, a T-shirt and red tennis shoes.
Just last month, the bodies of multiple Fort Hood soldiers were found. The body of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen was found a few miles outside the base. She had been declared missing since April and had previously told her family that she was sexually harassed by a fellow soldier.
Guillen was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked and her body was transported off base by her killer. One of the suspects in her death killed himself after a confrontation with police.
Anyone with any information about Fernandes’ disappearance, can contact Fort Hood military police at 254-288-1170 or the US Army Criminal Investigation Command at 254-287-2722. You can also contact the Killeen Police Department at 254-200-7905.