Two individuals have been formally charged in connection with the tragic death of a Fort Campbell soldier who was brutally stabbed nearly 70 times last year. The Clarksville Police Department announced on Saturday that Sofia Rodas, 35, has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of US Army Private First Class Katia Dueñas Aguilar, 23. Aguilar’s lifeless body was discovered in her residence in Clarksville, Tennessee in May.
Reynaldo Salinas Cruz, Aguilar’s husband, is also facing charges of tampering with evidence in relation to her death. Both Salinas Cruz, 40, and Rodas were previously in custody on unrelated federal charges before being extradited to Clarksville on Friday.
The specifics surrounding the charges have not been disclosed at this time, and the lawyers representing the accused in their federal cases were unavailable for comment.
Dueñas Aguilar, hailing from Mesquite, Texas, joined the Army in 2018 and transferred to Fort Campbell, situated on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, a year later. She served as a member of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade within the 101st Airborne Division.
A post-mortem examination conducted by the Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Dueñas Aguilar had sustained a total of 68 stab wounds to her neck and upper body. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be a result of sharp-force injuries to the neck, ruling it a homicide.
The tragic loss of Dueñas Aguilar has deeply impacted her family, friends, and the military community. The investigation into her untimely death continues as authorities seek justice for the slain soldier.
