Gabriella Cartagena and Robert Chilcote (Photos courtesy: Marinette Police Department and Wright County, Minnesota, Sheriff's Office)
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The search continues for Gabriella Cartagena, who was reported as “involuntarily missing” last week.
Meanwhile, a person of interest in the case appeared in a Minnesota court Monday on a count of aggravated battery filed in Marinette County.
Cartagena, 24, was last seen Feb. 4. Volunteers searched two locations Sunday.
“We are continuing to follow up on all leads and are attempting to obtain any camera footage which may assist us in our investigation. At this point I have no other information to provide and we are still attempting to locate whereabouts of the female,” said Police Chief Jon LaCombe.
Later, the department provided more information.
“The investigation led to the belief that Gabriella was in the area of Red Arrow Park in the City of Marinette immediately prior to her disappearance. As of this time, Gabriella’s whereabouts are still unknown. The investigation has also prompted the search area to be expanded to other jurisdictions,” the release states.
That update also states: “There is currently a person of interest in custody, and the name of that individual is being withheld at this time.”
However, Wright County, Minnesota shared a mug shot of Robert Chilcote. Wright County was among the agencies the police department cited as assisting in the case.
Chilcote’s photo appears to match that of the person of interest in the first release from police last week.
Wright County records say he was booked into the jail on charges of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and being a fugitive from justice from another state. Both show an offense date of Feb. 5, one day after Cartagena was last seen.
An extradition request was also filed for a count of aggravated battery, court records show. A $500,000 cash bail was set in court Monday, and he returns to court Feb. 20.
A Minnesota court document states: “On Feb. 9, 2026, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, Marinette, Wisconsin, advising that on Feb. 6, 2026, Robert Alan Chilcote, DOB 7-24-1996, hereinafter defendant, had been charged with Aggravated Battery via a complaint warrant and a warrant issued for defendant’s arrest. The defendant was subsequently arrested in Wright County, Minnesota, for felony assault and fleeing a peace officer at which time it was learned that there was a warrant out of Marinette County, Marinette, Wisconsin, for the defendant’s arrest.”
A search of Marinette County online court records for Chilcote result in a notice: “Your request could not be processed. This case is sealed and is not available for viewing by order of Judge Miller.”
As such, it wasn’t immediately known if those charges are related to Cartagena case, or if it is the aggravated battery case referred to by Minnesota court documents.
Cartagena was last known to be near N2330 Shore Dr., close to the boat launch by Little River Country Club, around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Cartagena is described as 5-foot-6, weighing about 129 pounds with brown hair, slightly past shoulder length. She was last known to be wearing black joggers, tan slippers, a black robe and possibly a black jacket.
If you have any information, call Marinette police at (715) 732-5200 or your local law enforcement agency.
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