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Authorities in Wisconsin have confirmed that a woman missing from the state has been discovered deceased, with her boyfriend now in custody in Minnesota.
The remains of 24-year-old Gabriella Cartagena were located in Michigan. However, officials suspect that the crime occurred in Marinette, Wisconsin, where she resided with her boyfriend, Robert Chilcote, according to a report by WLUK.
During a Thursday press conference, Marinette Police Chief John LaCombe disclosed that officers initially responded to Red Arrow Park, a site believed to be linked to the couple. There, they identified potential blood traces and other disturbances, prompting a focused investigation in the area from the outset.
The investigation commenced on February 5, following a report from Cartagena’s family that she was missing. Notably, her mother recounted a distressing phone conversation the previous night, during which she heard Gabriella pleading, “Please don’t shoot me. I’m sorry,” as reported by CrimeOnline. By Tuesday, authorities confirmed the discovery of Cartagena, with her family revealing her tragic death.
On Thursday, Marinette Police announced that her body had been located in a forested area within Menominee County, Michigan. The breakthrough came as investigators traced Chilcote’s activities following Cartagena’s disappearance, ultimately leading to his apprehension in Minnesota.
Chilcote has been charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and being a fugitive from justice from another state. Police said they found “several firearms” inside Chilcote’s vehicle.
“I don’t know if those were the weapons used in this incident or not,” LaCombe said.
Prosecutors are awaiting completion of an autopsy to file further charges, Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow said. Her office has already begun the process to extradite Chilcote to Wisconsin.