Gabriella Cartagena (Photo courtesy of Marinette Police Department)
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A woman reported missing from Marinette last week was found dead Tuesday in a wooded area in Menominee County, Michigan, and her boyfriend is in custody in Minnesota, police confirmed.
Two days after finding the body of 24-year-old Gabriella Cartagena, authorities held a press conference Thursday to release more details.
“On behalf of the Marinette Police Department, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Gabriella Cartagena during this very difficult time,” said Marinette Police Department Public Information Officer Brad Bayerl.
Authorities say the case began Feb. 5 at approximately 11:40 a.m., when the Marinette Police Department was notified about Cartagena’s disappearance. Her family said she was last seen at her residence around 5 p.m. the previous day. They also told police about a phone call with her mother where Cartagena was in distress, crying and saying, “Please don’t shoot me.”
It was reported that Cartagena was believed to be with her boyfriend, Robert Chilcote, at Red Arrow Park. Marinette Police Department Chief John LaCombe said, “While looking around the scene, we found some signs of possible blood and other disturbances in the area, which led us to believe that this was a scene we need to focus on from the start.”
LaCombe said Chilcote was identified as a person of interest in the case, “Through law enforcement investigative techniques, we were able to determine the whereabouts of Robert Chilcote. Our department sent a request for assistance to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota.”
“On Feb. 5th, at approximately 3.30 p.m. Marinette Police Department detectives were notified by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office that Chilcote was taken into custody by their department for fleeing a police officer, added LaCombe.
According to the chief, “There was weapons found in the vehicle. I don’t know if, I don’t know if those were the weapon used in this incident or not.”
Marinette police chief Jon LaCombe says detectives went to Minnesota to interview Chilcote but would not reveal the details of that interview.
LaCombe says investigators used surveillance video from various businesses and cell tower information to track Chilcote’s movement after Cartagena was reported missing.
That led investigators to a wooded area near Birch Creek Road in Menominee County, Michigan where Cartagena’s body was found Tuesday morning.
LaCombe says he believes Cartagena was killed at Red Arrow Park and transported to Menominee County.
Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow says they are working on Chilcote’s extradition and charges could be filed once the autopsy is complete.
Officials did not provide a motive.
Authorities say Cartagena moved to Marinette with her family from the Milwaukee area about a year ago. Cartagena also has a child from a previous relationship.
Chilcote is from the Marinette area and investigators did not know why Chilcote drove to Minnesota after Cartagena’s disappearance.
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