A former U.S. soldier has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of a fellow soldier on a military base in Germany over two decades ago. Shannon L. Wilkerson, 44, was found guilty by a jury in Pensacola, Florida, on May 7 of second-degree murder in the death of Amanda Gonzales.
Court documents revealed that Wilkerson killed Amanda Gonzales on November 3, 2001, at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, a U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Wilkerson was concerned he might be the father of Gonzales' unborn child and feared her pregnancy could affect his military career and marriage to another soldier.
"Shannon Wilkerson brutally murdered Amanda Gonzales, a fellow soldier who Wilkerson knew was pregnant at the time," stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "While nothing we can do will reunite Amanda with her family, we hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure and comfort to Amanda’s loved ones."
U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida remarked on the severity of the crime: "The defendant took the life of a 19-year-old woman serving her country far from home — knowing that he was killing her unborn child." He highlighted the lengthy investigation and prosecution as evidence of law enforcement's dedication to justice.
Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division emphasized their commitment to justice: "Justice for victims is not just a promise, it’s a commitment, no matter how long it takes." The sentencing coincides with nearly 23 years since Gonzales and her unborn child were murdered.
The investigation involved efforts from FBI New York and Jacksonville Field Offices with assistance from the Army Criminal Investigative Division. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse from the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida.