Vanessa Guillen’s family seeks $35 million in the Army specialist’s 2020 wrongful death at Fort Hood

Vanessa Guillen's sisters Lupe Guillen, left, and Mayra Guillen speak at a press conference regarding legislation that would designate Sept. 30, Guillen’s Birthday, as ‘Vanessa Guillen Day’ on April 20, 2021. (Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune)

The family of Vanessa Guillén, the 20-year-old Army specialist bludgeoned to death by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood has filed a $35 million wrongful death claim against the Army.

The claim made under the Federal Tort Claims Act, was filed on Friday, one day after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco ruled that a former Army colonel’s sexual assault case against a retired Air Force general could proceed.