Husband Denies Involvement in Murder of Wife as Son is Denied Bond
Gabriel Vilchez and David Gardiner at their preliminary hearing Monday in Dunlap.
UPDATE: Back in October a 50 year old woman was found dead outside of her home in the Lewis Chapel community of Sequatchie County.
Her son and husband were arrested and charged with her murder.
A Sequatchie County judge on Monday had to decide whether or not the son and husband of a murder victim would receive bond at all in this case. This, as the attorney for the husband, David Gardiner, argues that he was not involved in his wife’s murder.
An investigator with the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office, Ryan Wilkey, said that Vilchez gave two separate statements to investigators where he confessed to murdering his mother, 50 year old Silvia Vilchez.
This was after both Vilchez and Gardiner claimed they believe she had gone to home county of birth Costa Rica, or on a church trip.
Wilkey testified, “He had beaten his mother with a ball bat, and drug her body out in a fire pit, and burned it.”
He says that the fire pit was only about 50 yards away from the house.
Wilkey testified, “In the first interview he stated that they were out there all night long throwing wood on the fire to keep it burning.”
He says that Vilchez did not mention his stepfather in that first interview, but told detectives he had participated in the second one.
Vilchez’s attorney says that she was not made aware of that second interview and that she should have been allowed to be present.
She said, “He’s a child, with no experience, and you all sat down and interviewed him again without consul.”
Prosecutor Steven Strain said that Vilchez was already out on bond on an aggravated assault case in Marion County, showing a pattern a violence.
Judge L. Thomas Austin added, “This is probably one of the most egregious cases you will see.”
Meanwhile, another Sequatchie County Detective, Kaylee Smith, says they intercepted phone calls made by Gardiner in jail indicating potential issues if he made bond.
Strain asked, “Did he say something about what he would do if he was able to make bond?”
Smith responded, “He said that he wants to get out, sell everything he has, and then get the hell out of here.”
Gardiner’s attorney Michael Dowd argued that 18 year old Gabriel Vilchez’s testimony is the only reason his stepfather is also facing murder charges.
Dowd argued that due to a lack of direct evidence against him, he should have a low bond.
He said, “Other than a statement, the second statement of Mr. Vilchez, they have nothing.”
However, Sequatchie County Judge L. Thomas Austin disagreed.
Judge Austin said, “I’ve got to be oblivious to what is going on in the world to think that this man didn’t know what was going on there.”
The judge gave Vilchez no bond while he gave Gardiner a $250,000 bond, although he expects his case to go in front of an appellate court.
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SEQUATCHIE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Sequatchie County judge has denied bond to an 18-year-old charged with the murder of his mother.
18-year-old Gabriel Vilchez, along with his stepfather David Gardner, are charged with the murder of 50-year-old Sylvia Vilchez in the Lewis Chapel Community in Sequatchie County.
Testimony from a Sequatchie County detective showed that Vilchez confessed beating to his mom to death with a baseball bat, then drug her body outside to a fire pit, where her remains were burned.
This detective testified that the son did not mention his stepfathers involvement in the first interview, but the son came to investigators with information on his stepfather in the follow up interviews.
Gardner denies being involved in the murder, claiming he thought his wife had gone away on a church trip.
Gardner was given a 250,000 bond.
We will have more updates later today.
