Robert Chilcote (Marinette Co. Jail)
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Robert Chilcote pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegedly killing his girlfriend, Gabriella Cartagena, before dumping her body in Michigan and fleeing to Minnesota.
Chilcote, 29, allegedly shot Cartagena in the head during an argument Feb. 4 at a Marinette boat landing near Red Arrow Park before dumping her body in a wooded area in Menominee, Michigan, and fleeing to Minnesota. He was captured there after a police chase. Weapons were found in his car.
No trial date was set. He returns to court Aug. 18 for a status conference.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called by Cartagena’s family because they were concerned for her safety. Cartagena’s mother was on the phone with her daughter the night before she was reported missing and heard Cartagena “say something like I’m sorry, don’t shoot me, I didn’t do anything,” the complaint states.
Police responded to Red Arrow Park, where “officers located a large area of red substance of what appeared to be blood on the east side of the parking lot near the water,” the complaint states.
Police did a brief phone interview with Chilcote after he was arrested in Minnesota.
“(The officer) told Robert that I wanted to know where she is. Robert said that was why he was calling. Robert the (sic) said ‘it was an accident’. Robert then asked if his dad was ok. I told him his dad was ok. Robert then told me that she is in Michigan,” the complaint states.
Chilcote offered more details in a second interview.
“He said they were arguing in the car. Robert said she was calling him names and he told her to get out of the car. Robert said tried to scare her with the gun and then the gun went off. Robert said it was the .22 pistol and that it happened inside the car. Robert said he shot her in the head and he went around to the other side of the car and laid her on the ground. He said she was bleeding and he was scared and panicking. Robert said he moved her a bit and confirmed he moved her in front of the dock. I asked if he knew where her cell phone was. He said he drove somewhere and threw it out the window,” the complaint states.
He then drove to a wooded area in Michigan to dispose of Cartagena’s body, authorities allege. Police used cell phone location data to help find the body.
Chilcote said he and Cartagena had been dating for six months and were living together for four or five months. They had worked together at a retail store. Cartagena left behind a three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
No charges have been filed in Menominee County, Mich., in connection with the disposal of Cartagena’s body.
He also faces charges in Minnesota related to the chase before he was arrested there. That case is on hold, pending the outcome of the murder case.
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