A former U.S. soldier has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal murder of a pregnant fellow soldier on a U.S. Army base in Germany over two decades ago.
Shannon L. Wilkerson, 44, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Amanda Gonzales by a jury in Pensacola, Florida, on May 7.
According to court documents, Wilkerson beat and strangled Gonzales to death in her barracks room at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, a U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany, on November 3, 2001.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Wilkerson feared he was the father of Gonzales’ unborn child and that her pregnancy would interfere with his military career and his marriage to another soldier on the base at the time.
The case, which was originally investigated by the Army Criminal Investigative Division, was taken up by the FBI New York and Jacksonville Field Offices, who worked in conjunction with the Justice’s Criminal Division to bring Wilkerson to justice.
Prosecutors, including Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida, worked tirelessly to ensure that justice was served in this case.
“This sentencing is a testament to the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice for victims of violent crime, no matter how long it takes,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
Wilkerson’s sentence acknowledges the brutal and selfish nature of his crime, and brings a measure of closure and comfort to Gonzales’ loved ones, who will now be able to begin the healing process after over two decades of grieving.
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- Ronald Washington, Murder Indictment, New York 2002 · Washington
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- Allen Gessen, Murder-for-Hire, Massachusetts 2023 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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