Quick Crime Wednesdays: Elder Fernandes
- Chelsea Deuso
- Aug 27, 2020
- 3 min read
Sgt. Elder Fernandes
Elder is a 23 year old missing soldier at Fort Hood. Becoming, I think, number 9 of people who have gone missing or died since June.
However, from the reports that I’m reading, it appears that Elder may have runaway from the base.
From August 11th - August 17th, Elder was hospitalized on base, for what we don’t know, but the family was aware, and the Army kept in contact with them about him.
After this hospital stay is when Elder went missing.
The Killeen Police are assisting in the investigation and according to them, Elder was dropped off at a residence in Killeen, Texas by his staff sgt. But his aunt told them that he doesn’t live there anymore and hasn’t for quite some time. And it gets stranger, he never went inside the home after he was dropped off there.
This, to me, points to the theory of his disappearing on his own being something that would make complete sense.
But the Army came out that Elder had actually reported someone for what they call “sexual contact” that by definition is actually sexual assault, so I don’t know what their term “sexual contact” means, but what happened to him was assault.
His brother spoke with ABC News and told them that about a month ago Elton had told him another man grabbed his butt. In what capacity, we don’t know, but I don’t feel like it’s a “good job” sport butt smack kind of way if he felt the need to tell a family member about it. Men aren’t always forthcoming with things like this as, in my opinion, it makes them feel less than, and they just don’t really come forth. For him to do so makes me believe it was something with malicious intent.
Elder had told his brother not to worry because he’d get it taken care of. Very similar to Vanessa Guillen in that sense.
It makes you wonder if he felt so unsafe that the only way he could feel safe were to disappear?
The military is obviously urging Elder to please return so that he can receive the help and care he needs, but I’m confused what care he needs other than the person who assaulted him to pay the price?
Because the military said that he was working with the unit sexual response coordinator and making sure he was taken care of? That just honestly really confuses me. Can someone help me out with this? Is it worse than they’re leading on? Is he having severe mental health issues that he needs help with?
They’re being hush, hush with the details, which... it’s an investigation, but still. They’re being so vague that it leaves me with more questions than answers, especially when it comes to the assault. I don’t know.
All that we really know is that he had to be transferred units as to not receive any retaliation from the person who he has alleged committed the assault.
Even though the Army says they have been in contact with his family daily since they arrived at Fort Hood, they are saying the opposite and that they don’t even know why he was hospitalized?
Elder was obviously very intelligent as he was a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialist for the 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade. So, if he did disappear on his own, he may have been planning it for a while.
The Army has helped in searching nearby hotels and other areas to see if there are any signs of him.
He was last seen in the black Army training shorts, a tshirt, and red tennis shoes.
It will be very interesting to see what happens. I hope, for his and his family’s sake, that he either comes back or is found safe and alive and maybe he can tell his story of what drove him to runaway.
UPDATE:
As soon as I recorded this and put it out. News broke that his body was found hanging from tree. According to police, they do not suspect foul play occurred in his death, but that he took his own life.
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