In a chilling conclusion to a 22-year-old case, Shannon L. Wilkerson, 43, a former U.S. Army soldier, was convicted by a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, on Monday of the second-degree murder of 19-year-old Pfc. Amanda Gonzales. Gonzales, who was four and a half months pregnant, was brutally beaten and strangled to death in her barracks room at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, an Army base in Hanau, Germany, on November 3, 2001.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wilkerson’s conviction on Tuesday following a trial where jurors heard detailed evidence implicating Wilkerson in the crime. At the time of her death, Gonzales was stationed as a cook in the Headquarters Supply Company of the 127th Aviation Support Battalion and was expected at work the morning of November 5. However, when she failed to show up, her colleagues investigated and found her lifeless body in her room, sparking an extensive probe.
According to the DOJ, Wilkerson had been involved in an affair with Gonzales while married to another soldier, A. Martinez, who was also stationed at the base. Court documents revealed that Gonzales was pregnant and believed Wilkerson or another soldier, identified as M. Johnson, to be the father of her unborn child. At the same time, Wilkerson’s wife was also expecting his child. Despite his marital status, Wilkerson reportedly feared the repercussions of Gonzales’s potential report to the command staff regarding their relationship. Gonzales had threatened to end the affair and disclose it to authorities, which Wilkerson believed would damage his military career.
Witnesses testified that Wilkerson had admitted to an affair with Gonzales and was deeply concerned about being the father of her child. In the days leading up to the murder, he allegedly threatened Gonzales, telling her that he would kill her if she reported the relationship. This chilling prediction turned into a reality on November 3, when Wilkerson was seen leaving an on-base party between 10 and 11 p.m. and not returning until several hours later.
The morning after the murder, Wilkerson reportedly became drunk and was seen in a colleague’s room, visibly agitated and muttering with his hands on his head, “I f— up, I f— up.”
The investigation into Gonzales’s murder was intricate and long. Initial evidence suggested that she had been raped before being strangled to death, but law enforcement struggled to identify the perpetrator at the time. The case remained cold for nearly two decades until renewed efforts by the DOJ, FBI, and Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) brought Wilkerson to justice.
The Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which provides U.S. courts jurisdiction over crimes committed overseas by former service members, allowed Wilkerson to be charged despite no longer being under the Uniform Code of Military Justice after his discharge from the Army in 2004.
Wilkerson was arrested in February 2023 and stood trial in Pensacola, Florida. The jury heard substantial evidence that implicated Wilkerson, including his affair with Gonzales, his desire to silence her to protect his career, and his suspicious behavior around the time of the murder. The court documents highlighted the timeline and motive, as well as Wilkerson’s concern that Gonzales was pregnant with his child.
Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, remarked that Wilkerson’s conviction is a testament to the Justice Department’s relentless pursuit of justice, saying, “His conviction yesterday, more than two decades later, is a testament to the Justice Department’s unrelenting pursuit of justice. Many dedicated law enforcement officers and prosecutors persisted for years, pursuing every available lead and never wavering in their search for evidence to hold the victim’s killer to account for his heinous crime.”
U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the prosecution underscores the commitment of law enforcement partners to protect Americans, especially those serving in the military.
“Twenty-two years ago, Shannon Wilkerson brutally murdered Amanda Gonzales, who he believed was pregnant with his child,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy R. Langan Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “Yesterday’s conviction is a testament to our unwavering commitment of pursuing justice for victims of violent crime. Through the collaboration of law enforcement, the FBI and our partners will continue to seek justice for victims, no matter how long it takes.”
The Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, led by Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg, prosecuted the case, leveraging court documents, witness testimonies, and forensic evidence to build a compelling argument. The FBI’s New York Field Office and the Army’s CID provided pivotal support throughout the years.
Now facing a possible life sentence, Wilkerson will learn his fate on August 8, when he is formally sentenced. The federal district judge will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in delivering a fitting punishment.
The conviction offers some solace to Gonzales’s family, who endured years of uncertainty and grief. Her mother, Gloria Bates, had long campaigned for justice for her daughter, whose case gained renewed attention after the 2020 murder of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillén, which echoed Gonzales’s tragic story.
As the dust settles, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of justice for victims of violent crime, even after years of uncertainty. The determination of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, in this case, stands as a beacon for families seeking closure and justice, no matter how long the journey may take.
