Afrigather Pfc. Amanda Gonzales, 19, was 4 months pregnant when she was murdered in 2001 in Germany. On Thursday, Shannon L. Wilkerson, 44, the person convicted of killing Gonzales, was sentenced to jail. Photograph courtesy of FBI/Launch
Oct. 25 (UPI) — A former U.S. Military soldier convicted of killing 19-year-old Pfc. Amanda Gonzales, who was 4 1/2 months pregnant and probably carrying his baby, in Germany greater than 20 years in the past has been sentenced to 30 years in jail.
Shannon L. Wilkerson, 44, was sentenced Thursday, closing a case that had remained open over the course of greater than 20 years.
“Whereas nothing we will do will reunite Amanda along with her household, we hope immediately’s sentencing brings some measure of closure and luxury to Amanda’s family members,” Principal Deputy Assistant Legal professional Basic Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Division’s Legal Division, mentioned in an announcement.
Gonzales’ physique was discovered Nov. 5, 2001, in her third-floor barracks room on Fliegerhorst Kaserne close to Hanau, Germany, after she did not report back to work.
Her reason behind loss of life was decided to be asphyxiation. She had solely been in Germany eight months when she was killed.
Based on court docket paperwork, Wilkerson was married to a different soldier stationed in Hanau, who was pregnant concurrently Gonzales.
Gonzales, unsure in regards to the paternity of her unborn baby was, had needed to finish her relationship with Wilkerson, in line with prosecutors, who additionally mentioned Wilkerson feared the kid was his.
The 19-year-old was final seen strolling to the lavatory in her barracks the evening of Nov. 2, 2001, about three days earlier than her physique was discovered.
After her physique was discovered three days later, the case ran chilly, and in 2020, the FBI introduced a $10,000 reward for data resulting in the arrest of a suspect.
Particulars of Wilkerson’s arrest weren’t clear, however he was detained and charged in February and convicted in Might.
Proof federal prosecutors launched throughout trial acknowledged that Wilkerson killed Gonzales out of worry that her unborn baby was his and that it might intrude together with his marriage and navy profession.
Wilkerson was honorably discharged in 2004.
“This sentencing comes simply as Amanda Gonzales’ household will mark 23 years since she and her unborn baby had been brutally murdered by Shannon Wilkerson on Nov. 3, 2001. Whereas no quantity of jail time will carry the younger Military soldier again, we hope this can shut one other chapter within the Gonzales household’s grieving course of,” Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Legal Investigative Division mentioned.
