Days after a frantic phone call where she reportedly begged not to be shot, 24-year-old Marinette resident Gabriella Alexis Cartagena has been found, according to police. Her family now says she has died, and the man they describe as the last person to see her, 29-year-old Robert Chilcote, is behind bars in Minnesota after a high-speed chase where deputies say a rifle was recovered from his car, according to WKRC.
Police Say Cartagena Has Been Located, Family Says She Has Died
In an updated statement, the Marinette Police Department confirmed that Cartagena had been located but declined to release any further details, as reported by WKRC. A GoFundMe created by her brother describes Gabriella as having “recently passed away” and asks for help with funeral expenses, listing Marinette, WI, as the family’s location.
Family Says Final Words Came From Red Arrow Park
Relatives told reporters that their last known contact with Cartagena came from a phone call in which she pleaded, “Please don't shoot me. I'm sorry,” according to People. Before she was located, police had classified her as an “involuntarily missing” person, and local search teams and volunteers focused on the Red Arrow Park area while investigators pursued additional leads.
Person Of Interest Caught After 17-Mile, 100 Mph Pursuit
Wright County deputies in Minnesota say they attempted to stop a red Toyota Prius in Monticello, but the driver took off, reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour during a roughly 16-minute, 17-mile pursuit that involved about 10 deputies, according to reporting by WBAY. Authorities say the car ran over a stop sign and became stuck after officers deployed stop sticks, and the driver, identified in media reports as Robert Chilcote, was taken into custody. The same reporting notes that deputies found an AR-15 rifle with an inserted magazine on the front passenger seat of the Prius.
Court Records And Current Charges
Public court records and local coverage show that Chilcote was booked in Wright County, Minnesota, on charges that include fleeing a peace officer and being a fugitive from another state. A Marinette County complaint for aggravated battery and an extradition request have also been referenced in filings, according to reporting by WLUC/TV6. Local outlets report that he is being held on six-figure bail while authorities continue their investigations, and investigators have not publicly charged him in connection with Cartagena's disappearance.
Investigators Ask Residents To Review Security Footage
Investigators have urged residents and businesses along Highway 41 and nearby routes to review doorbell and security camera footage from the night of Feb. 4, especially between about 9:25 and 9:45 p.m., and to contact Marinette police or Menominee County dispatch with any tips, per WBAY. Marinette police say more information will be released after investigators coordinate across jurisdictions and review the evidence.
