Decades after a young U.S. Army soldier was found strangled and beaten to death in her barracks in Germany, a former serviceman has been convicted of her murder. The victim, 19-year-old Pfc. Amanda Gonzales, was four months pregnant at the time of her death.
A former U.S. Army soldier has been found guilty of murdering a pregnant colleague in a cold case spanning over two decades. Shannon Wilkerson, 43, was convicted of second-degree murder by a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, on Monday. The victim, U.S. Army Pfc. Amanda Gonzales, 19, was four months pregnant when she was beaten and strangled to death in her barracks room at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, a former Army base in Hanau, Germany, in November 2001.
Gonzales's body was discovered when she failed to report for duty as a cook in the Headquarters Supply Company of the 127th Aviation Support Battalion. Her brutal murder had remained unsolved for years until Wilkerson, a soldier at the time of the crime, was arrested on February 23, 2023.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Wilkerson believed Gonzales was pregnant with his child. Authorities charged him under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which allows U.S. federal courts to prosecute crimes committed outside the country by former servicemembers who are no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
At the time of his arrest, Wilkerson had been discharged from active duty in 2004. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8 and faces a potential life sentence.
Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan Jr. of the FBI's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch hailed the conviction as a testament to the FBI's unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims of violent crimes. He emphasized that law enforcement will continue to pursue justice, no matter how long it takes.
The case has also been highlighted as a reminder of the challenges and dangers faced by women in the military. Gonzales's murder serves as a tragic example of the violence that can occur within military ranks.
The conviction brings closure to Gonzales's family, who have endured decades of uncertainty and grief. Her mother, Karen Gonzales, expressed her relief and said that the verdict provides a sense of justice for her daughter and her unborn child.
Wilkerson's conviction underscores the importance of holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable, even decades after the fact. It also demonstrates the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to solving cold cases and bringing closure to the victims' families and loved ones.
