Amanda Gonzales (photographs by way of FBI)
A former member of the U.S. Military stands accused in Florida federal courtroom of murdering a pregnant fellow soldier who was working as a battalion cook dinner in Germany again in 2001.
The Division of Justice, greater than 21 years after Pfc. Amanda Gonzales was killed by asphyxiation on Nov. 3, 2001, recognized 42-year-old Shannon L. Wilkerson because the suspect.
“The homicide occurred at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, then a U.S. Military base in Hanau, Germany. Wilkerson was a member of the Armed Forces on the time of the alleged offense however was later discharged from the Military,” the feds mentioned, noting that the Navy Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (or MEJA) has empowered investigators to pursue the case.
“MEJA topics sure people to federal prosecution for felony offenses dedicated outdoors america, supplied the offense would have been topic to federal prosecution throughout the particular maritime and territorial jurisdiction of america,” the DOJ web site explains. “MEJA permits the train of legal jurisdiction over crimes dedicated outdoors america if on the time of the offense the offender was (1) employed by the Armed Forces outdoors america; (2) accompanying the Armed Forces outdoors america; or (3) a member of the Armed Forces.”
Lengthy earlier than figuring out a suspect, the feds mentioned that Gonzales was working her first project within the Military as a battalion cook dinner when she was brutally killed.
“Amanda Gonzales in Hanau, Germany. Gonzales, 19, was 4 months pregnant on the time of her homicide,” the FBI mentioned. “Her physique was discovered on November 5, 2001, in her third-floor barracks room on Fliegerhorst Kasern, close to Hanau, Germany, after she didn’t report for work. Gonzales, on her first project within the Military, was assigned to the Headquarters Provide Firm of the 127th Aviation Assist battalion as a cook dinner on the time of her demise. The reason for demise was dominated a murder by asphyxiation.”
In keeping with the transient indictment towards Wilkerson, the suspect was discharged from the U.S. Military on July 31, 2004 and was discharged from the U.S. Military reserve on June 12, 2007.
Wilkerson, “with malice aforethought, and with premeditation, did kill unlawfully Amanda Gonzales, a human being,” mentioned the indictment.
In July 2020, Gonzales’ surviving relations have been interviewed about their response to the case of Vanessa Guillen, a former personal within the U.S. Military who, like Gonzales, was allegedly murdered by a fellow member of the armed forces.
Vanessa Guillen, Military Prison Investigative Command
Gonzales’ mom reportedly advised KBTX she thought “oh my God, that is my daughter yet again,” when studying about Guillen’s homicide. One among Gonzales’ cousins additionally expressed hope that Guillen’s demise would shine a light-weight as soon as once more on her beloved one’s unsolved case.
“My household deserves closure,” Stephanie Jackson wrote in 2020 on Fb, sharing the #JusticeForVanessa hashtag. Now, greater than three years later, the DOJ says it is able to pursue justice for Amanda Gonzales within the courts.
U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Hope T. Cannon signed off on the arrest warrant within the case on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Pensacola.
The courtroom docket within the Northern District of Florida case signifies that Randall Lockhart has been appointed as Wilkerson’s public defender and {that a} detention listening to is ready for 10:30 a.m. on March 3.
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Supply By https://lawandcrime.com/crime/former-u-s-army-member-murdered-pregnant-solider-working-as-battalion-cook-in-germany-more-than-20-years-ago-feds/
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