Stockton Murder Victim's Family Pushes For Death Penalty
STOCKTON (CBS13) -- The family of a young Stockton woman who shot to death wants the death penalty for the suspect, and prosecutors say the case qualifies for just that.
"In all special circumstance cases the defendant or defendants are eligible for the death penalty," said San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Robert Himelblau.
Dalene Carlson's relatives showed up to court for the first time since Jason Gilley was charged with the kidnap, rape, and shooting death of the 23-year-old.
"The only thing he does deserve is the death penalty," said Carlson's aunt, Margret Baker.
Dalene disappeared after leaving Finnegan's bar on Aug. 7. Gilley admitted the two were together that night and had sex but denied knowing anything about her whereabouts. Two months later, a farm worker discovered her dumped body in an Escalon corn field.
"To put somebody in a cornfield like a dog, he deserves less than what he's getting right now," Baker said. "I think they should cast him to some damn island so he can live all by himself with wild beasts."
Gilley was arrested for kidnapping shortly after Dalene's disappearance, but a lack of evidence forced prosecutors to drop charges.
Now, they say there's more than 1,000 pages of evidence, and that's not including phone records.
"He knew what he did. He had this lie and he kept it inside of him," Baker said. "He's so wrong for doing that and I hope he goes down. God forgive me for saying that, but I hope he does."
Gilley didn't enter a plea Monday. His lawyer has asked for more time to sift through the evidence.
The district attorney's office is expected to decide soon if it will seek the death penalty.
