In March, the news of Army Private Ana Basaldua Ruiz’s death garnered widespread attention as she became the second woman stationed at Fort Hood (now known as Fort Cavazos) to be found deceased. As reports emerged, Basaldua Ruiz’s family and friends alleged that the 20-year-old had been going through a difficult time due to harassment.
However, unlike Vanessa Guillen, whose death was later classified as a homicide, the United States Army declared Basaldua Ruiz’s death a suicide, as reported by Telemundo.
In an article by Telemundo, both of Basaldua Ruiz’s parents were interviewed. Alejandra Ruiz Sarco, her mother, stated, “My daughter did not commit suicide; my daughter was suicided.”
Ana Basaldua Ruiz faced challenges she was unprepared for
Ruiz Sarco shared that before her daughter joined the Army, she was a “happy and lively girl,” but the military environment proved to be a significant and challenging change for her. Ruiz Sarco explained, “It was very difficult for her to realize what reality was like in the Army: the confinement, psychological pressure, the physical and work pressure that they experience.”
Telemundo reported that Basaldua Ruiz enlisted in the Army in August 2021 at the age of 18 and was assigned to Fort Cavazos in December 2021. Soon after, she began expressing to her colleagues and family that she was facing harassment from a superior who served as her counselor within her platoon.
According to the Army’s investigation, the counselor would become jealous when he saw her interacting with other men. Soldiers informed Army officials that Basaldua Ruiz described him as “intense” and felt “smothered” by his behavior.
While the Army did not disclose the name of Basaldua Ruiz’s counselor, their investigation deemed the relationship between them as improper. As a result, she was transferred out of the platoon, while her counselor was promoted and assigned to another platoon for a fresh start as a leader.
Ana Basaldua Ruiz not only faced harassment but also experienced assault
In December 2022, Basaldua Ruiz was assaulted by another soldier with whom she had a relationship. Although the Army found no evidence of a formal complaint, the soldier involved admitted something had happened.
The soldier stated during the Army’s investigation that he may have choked her but dismissed it as a joke. The report sent to Telemundo did not mention the soldier’s name or any disciplinary actions taken against him.
A few days after her death, investigators discovered a journal entry where Basaldua Ruiz described the incident. She wrote, “Something happened yesterday and I really didn’t like it a lot what happened, but what can I do. I was with [unlisted soldier], and he got mad at me for something dumb. He was choking me, and I couldn’t move, and he thought that was super fun.”
Basaldua Ruiz indicated her uncertainty about how to leave the relationship, hoping she wouldn’t have to see him again.
Feeling isolated and facing consequences
In the same month she reported the assault, Basaldua Ruiz tested positive for marijuana during a urinalysis. Telemundo noted that this triggered a military separation process. According to Military One Source, military separation is a procedure to transition a soldier back to civilian life.
Basaldua Ruiz explained to a friend at Fort Cavazos that she accidentally consumed marijuana gummies while on leave.
Friends and colleagues noticed a change in her demeanor following the assault and the military’s decision to initiate the separation process. Due to the imposed restrictions, she couldn’t leave for Christmas and was burdened with additional work assignments. She also started spending more time alone.
According to Telemundo, Basaldua Ruiz had a follow-up separation process initiated shortly before her death after being caught stealing with two other soldiers from a store on the base.
Found deceased 15 months after enlisting
About 15 months later, two soldiers discovered Basaldua Ruiz’s body partially suspended in the maintenance bay, a location she often visited for solitude and reading. The Army’s report, as cited by Telemundo, described this as the place she liked to go for solace.
Her father, Baldo Basaldua, shared that he had received several text messages from her in which she expressed her emotions. “My whole life is wrong” and “I want to die” were some of the messages he received. However, at that time, he viewed them as normal reactions and did not believe she would take such actions.
Looking back, he regrets not calling her. He believes that if he had reached out to her, she might still be alive today. He stated, “I think it would have helped her a lot if I had called her on the phone.”
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