Justice Served After 21 Years: Ex-Soldier Found Guilty in Murder of Pregnant Soldier in Hanau, Germany

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A shocking verdict has been reached in a cold case from over two decades ago. 

A former U.S. soldier, Shannon Wilkerson, has been found guilty of murdering his fellow soldier, Amanda Gonzales, in Germany back in 2001.

The jury in a federal court located in Pensacola, Florida, delivered the guilty verdict on Tuesday. 

Wilkerson, now 43 years old, was convicted of the murder of Gonzales, who was just 19 years old and four months pregnant at the time of her death. 

The tragic event unfolded at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, a former U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, which cited court documents and trial evidence, Wilkerson brutally beat and strangled Gonzales inside her room on November 3rd, 2001. 

This conviction carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for August 8th of this year.

Authorities believe Wilkerson may have suspected Gonzales was carrying his child. 

Sadly, her lifeless body wasn't discovered until two days later, on November 5th, when coworkers noticed her absence from her duties as a cook on the base. 

A medical examiner confirmed her death was caused by suffocation, prompting a homicide investigation by authorities.

The FBI, who played a crucial role in the lengthy investigation, previously reported that Gonzales' body was found in her barracks room. 

It took over 21 years for justice to be served. 

Wilkerson wasn't arrested until February 2023 in Florida, long after his discharge from the military (details regarding his discharge date and reasons remain unclear). 

Many aspects surrounding the murder and Wilkerson's motive are still shrouded in mystery. 

CBS News reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice for further information, but a response is yet to be received.

"This soldier, Amanda Gonzales, was brutally murdered while carrying a child," stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri, who heads the Justice Department's criminal division. 

"The verdict after more than two decades reflects the unwavering commitment of the Justice Department to seek justice. 

Countless dedicated law enforcement officers and prosecutors tirelessly pursued every possible lead, never giving up in their search for evidence to hold the perpetrator accountable for this horrific crime."

The charges against Wilkerson fall under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act. 

This act empowers U.S. federal courts to prosecute crimes committed overseas by former military personnel, even though they might no longer be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which governs the U.S. military justice system.

 

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