Two arrested in Sequatchie County homicide

SEQUATCHIE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide believed to have occurred on Monday, October 27 in the Lewis Chapel Community.

Deputies were initially contacted on October 28 about a possible missing person, Ms. Vilchez.

After multiple interviews, deputies were able to obtain a search warrant for the victim’s home as well as the property where she lived with her adult son and husband.

On October 30, the search took place and a suspected crime scene was found.

The victim is believed to have been beaten to death.

Investigators then discovered an area near the home where recently charred human remains were found.

The remains were taken to the State of Tennessee Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville.

The victim’s husband, 64-year-old David Gardiner, and her son, 18-year-old Gabriel Vilchez, have been charged with her murder as well as abuse of her corpse.