Homicide charge issued after death of Gabriella Cartagena

Story updated 2/21/26

MARINETTE – Robert Alan Chilcote, 29, of Porterfield faces felony first-degree homicide charges, Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow said Feb. 13, following news that the body of Gabriella Cartagena — Chilcote’s girlfriend, age 24 — was found in Menominee County.

Cartagena died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to an autopsy report released by Walworth County Medical Examiner Dr. Brian Peterson, according to Marinette County court documents.

After allegedly shooting Cartagena in the head near Red Arrow Park in Marinette on Feb. 4, Chilcote allegedly buried her body near Birch Creek Road in Menominee County, according to Morrow’s amended complaint filed at the Marinette County Courthouse.

He then reportedly went to work at Walmart in Marinette at midnight and worked for about two hours before telling his supervisor he quit, the amended complaint continued.

After stopping by his father’s residence, he drove about 5.5 hours west to Minnesota, where he was spotted and apprehended after a police chase, Minnesota authorities said. Marinette Police had sent out an alert requesting assistance with his arrest.

Chilcote was jailed in Minnesota for fleeing a police officer and assault, with bond set at $100,000, Wright County Lt. Ryan Ferguson said. He was scheduled to appear in court in Minnesota on Feb. 20.

As an alleged fugitive of justice from Marinette County, Chilcote’s bond was set at $500,000, Ferguson said. Marinette County issued an arrest warrant on Feb. 13 with homicide charges, according to court records.

Chilcote and Cartagena reportedly worked the night shift together as stockers at Walmart and had been living together in Marinette, according to police reports.

Menominee County police and sheriff’s deputies used drones and information Wright County provided — after allegedly talking to Chilcote — to locate a body that matched Cartagena’s description and forearm tattoo. Chilcote allegedly said exactly where he had buried the body in the snow near Birch Creek Road, the amended complaint said.

“The killing is alleged to have occurred in Marinette County; therefore, the homicide case will be prosecuted there,” Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Rogg said in an email.

Chilcote supposedly told Wright County authorities he and Cartagena were arguing in the car near Red Arrow Park in Marinette before the shooting occurred. He said the shooting was an accident.

The complaint included the following description, “He said he tried to scare her with the gun and then the gun went off. Robert (Chilcote) said it was the .22 pistol and he shot her in the head… He said she was bleeding, and he was scared and panicking.”

Chilcote then allegedly threw Cartagena’s cellphone out the window, stopped at her apartment, returned to Red Arrow, put the body in the car and drove to Menominee County. He then allegedly stopped around Birch Creek Road, took out the body and dragged it in the snow, where he buried it, according to the complaint.

Morrow said charges were filed Feb. 13 accusing Chilcote of alleged intentional first-degree homicide. However, Chilcote wasn’t present in the courtroom as he was being held in Minnesota. Defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty.

Authorities in three states cooperated to apprehend Chilcote after a red Toyota Prius with Wisconsin plates thought to be involved in Cartagena’s disappearance was spotted in Menominee County between 9:25 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 4, a couple of hours after her call of distress. She was heard saying, “Please don’t shoot me,” according to information posted on Facebook.

Cartagena was last seen alive at about 7:20 p.m. on Feb. 4 at N2330 Shore Drive in Marinette, the Marinette Police said. A manager at the nearby country club said no one reported anything unusual to the club.

Authorities arrested Chilcote following an extended police chase the following day when the Prius “crashed into a snow bank, taking out a road sign in a roundabout” in Otsego, Minn.
After being ordered out of the vehicle, Chilcote allegedly was taken into custody. Wright County authorities found a loaded AR15 style rifle on the passenger seat within the driver’s reach, the amended complaint said.

According to an online obituary, Cartagena was the mother of three-year-old Anaya and the daughter of Denise Reed and the late Alfonso Cartagena. She was the youngest in her family and had four siblings.

The obituary recalled her “unforgettable smile” and sense of humor, with a “laugh that always lit up the room.” A service for her is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20, in Milwaukee.
In Wisconsin, Walworth County declined to comment on the medical examiner’s report and referred a reporter to Marinette County for information.