FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – The III Armored Corps and Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) commanding general provided an update on the circumstances surrounding the death of Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz during a press conference March 17 at the III Armored Corps Headquarters here.

Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos), updated media and took questions on the death of 1st Cavalry Division Soldier Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, a 20-year-old combat engineer with 1st Cavalry Division who was found deceased March 13. 

“We are saddened by her death and we extend our deepest condolences to her family,” Bernabe said. “With Ana’s passing, we lost a teammate and a friend. Her fellow troopers in the 1st Cavalry Division mourn her loss, Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) mourns her loss … this entire community mourns her loss.”

Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) leadership has been in constant contact with Basalduaruiz’s mother and father in an effort to keep them updated on ongoing efforts.

“As we speak, a team from Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) is on the ground in California with Ana’s father,” Bernabe said.

The circumstances surrounding Basalduaruiz’s death is under investigation, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is the lead investigative agency.

CID provided an update, to which Bernabe provided a portion of that statement saying, “At this point in the investigation, there are no indications of foul play, CID is not ruling anything out, and they will investigate the circumstances leading up to Ana’s death fully and completely.”

The complete CID statement delivered by a Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) spokesperson is at the end of the press conference video.

The entirety of the press conference is available here:

A dedicated web page has been posted to the Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Website with all press releases and the press conference video link. Any updates will be provided to that page and on the Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Press Center. Click here for the Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz page.