CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The two suspects in the 2024 stabbing death of Fort Campbell soldier Pfc. Katia Dueñas Aguilar are now facing a host of new charges, including rape of a child, after a Montgomery County grand jury returned an indictment this month.
On the night of May 18, 2024, police responded to an ambulance call at a home in the 900 block of Tiny Town Road, according to previous reports. Inside they found 23-year-old Aguilar dead. According to an autopsy report, Aguilar was stabbed to death, with approximately 68 wounds to her neck, head, chest and shoulder.
On Feb. 7, Sofia Rodas, 36, and Reynaldo Salinas-Cruz, 40, who were already in federal custody on separate charges, were extradited to Clarksville on charges related to Aguilar’s murder. Now, the two are facing new charges for child sex crimes.
Over a dozen child rape, sex abuse charges
According to the indictment, on or around May 7, 2023, Salinas-Cruz, 38, at the time, “did intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in sexual penetration” of a 16-year-old. Clarksville Now does not identify victims in sex crime cases.
Between May 12, 2023, and Oct. 4, 2024, Rodas had knowledge of Salinas-Cruz’s sexual abuse of the 16-year-old. Not only did Rodas not report it, but according to the indictment, she aided Salinas-Cruz in “avoiding arrest, trial, conviction or punishment” with the intent to “hinder” the judicial process.
Additionally, from April 9, 2023, to Oct. 4, 2024, Salinas-Cruz and Rodas together “did intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in sexual penetration” of an 8-year-old child.
Rodas is now facing the following new charges:
- Accessory after the fact
- Knowingly failed to report child sex abuse
- Rape of a child
- 2 counts of attempted rape of a child
Salinas-Cruz is facing the following 12 charges:
- 2 counts of statutory rape by an authority figure
- 2 counts of aggravated statutory rape
- 3 counts of rape of a child
- 5 counts of attempted rape of a child
Marriage fraud and deaths of soldier spouses
According to documents obtained by Clarksville Now, Salinas-Cruz and Rodas had been married, not just to each other, but to two Fort Campbell soldiers.
On May 22, 2020, Salinas-Cruz, of Mexico, married “Sophia” Rodas of El Salvador, with her first name spelled differently on that document. They would remain married for 2 1/2 years before divorcing.
Over two years later, on Dec. 16, 2022, a Fort Campbell soldier, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Scott Thompson, married Rodas. They spent the next 10 months together as husband and wife, however, on Oct. 29, 2023, Thompson suddenly died.
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On Oct. 4, 2024, Salinas-Cruz and Rodas were arrested on federal charges of marriage fraud. According to the indictment, around September 2023, Salinas-Cruz and Rodas “did knowingly combine, conspire, confederate and agree” with each other and with others to enter into marriage in order to evade immigration laws, an agreement that lasted until May 17, 2024.
Rodas, originally from El Salvador, was only charged with one count of marriage fraud, while Salinas-Cruz, born in Mexico, received two counts.
In addition to his marriage to Rodas, the indictment states that on or about Oct. 6, 2023, Salinas-Cruz married a different woman to evade immigration laws, which, according to court documents, is the same date that Salinas-Cruz married Aguilar.
Timeline of events so far
Based off of various court documents obtained by Clarksville Now, here is a timeline of events so far as the case continues:
- May 22, 2020: Salinas-Cruz and Rodas marry.
- Dec. 2, 2022: Salinas-Cruz and Rodas divorce.
- Dec. 16, 2022: Rodas marries Thompson.
- April 9, 2023 – Oct. 4, 2024: Salinas-Cruz and Rodas are alleged to have begun sexually abusing an 8-year-old.
- May 7, 2023: Salinas-Cruz is alleged to have sexually abused a 16-year-old.
- May 12, 2023 – Oct. 4, 2024: Rodas learns of Salinas-Cruz’s sexual abuse of the 16-year-old and does not report.
- Sept. 22, 2023: Aguilar and unnamed husband divorce.
- Oct. 6, 2023: Salinas-Cruz marries Aguilar.
- Oct. 29, 2023: Thompson dies.
- May 18, 2024: Aguilar is murdered.
- Oct. 4, 2024: Salinas-Cruz and Rodas are arrested on federal marriage fraud charges and the sexual abuse against the 8-year-old stops.
- Dec. 2024: A Montgomery County grand jury indicts Salinas-Cruz and Rodas on charges related to Aguilar’s murder.
- Feb. 7-8, 2025: Salinas-Cruz and Rodas are extradited and booked into Montgomery County Jail.
- Sept. 3, 2025: Grand jury indicts Salinas-Cruz and Rodas on new charges relating to child sex crimes.
Arraignment set for sex charges
Salinas-Cruz and Rodas have remained in custody since their arrest in October 2024 for marriage fraud. For that case, Rodas has pleaded not guilty to one count of marriage fraud and Salinas-Cruz pleaded guilty to both counts of marriage fraud. He was sentenced to four counts of time served.
After being extradited to Montgomery County back in February this year, both defendants appeared in court. Rodas pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, and Salinas-Cruz pleaded not guilty on his one charge of tampering with evidence.
Their trial is set to begin Aug. 17, 2026, according to Montgomery County court records.
As for the new charges relating to child sex crimes, both Rodas and Salinas-Cruz are expected to appear in court for arraignment on Oct. 6.
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