A former U.S. Army soldier, aged 42, has been convicted this week for the murder of a 19-year-old fellow soldier who was pregnant at the time. The tragic incident took place over 22 years ago on a U.S. Army base in Germany. The convicted soldier now faces the possibility of a life sentence.
Shannon Wilkerson has been found guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Pfc. Amanda Gonzales on November 3, 2001, according to the Justice Department. The verdict was delivered by a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida.
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Wilkerson’s sentencing is scheduled for August 8.
“Yesterday’s conviction, after more than two decades, serves as a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment of the Justice Department in its pursuit of justice,” stated Nicole Argentieri, the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and the head of the Criminal Division at the Justice Department.
She died from asphyxiation, with her death occurring just eight months after she arrived in Germany.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command had offered a reward of $100,000 for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible, even though the case had gone cold.
In February of last year, prosecutors made an announcement that Wilkerson had been arrested and charged in the Northern District of Florida for Gonzales’ murder. He had remained free until then.
According to Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, Wilkerson’s motive for his actions was his belief that Gonzales was carrying his child.
According to court documents on pre-trial detention from last year, government evidence reveals that Wilkerson was married to another soldier stationed in Hanua in 2001, who was also pregnant at the same time as Gonzales.
In 2004, Wilkerson received an honorable discharge.
According to Langan, the conviction from yesterday serves as proof of their strong dedication to seeking justice for victims of violent crime. He emphasized that they will persist in their pursuit of justice, no matter how much time it takes, by working together with law enforcement, the FBI, and their partners.
