Tragedy struck a small community near the Wisconsin-Michigan border when 24-year-old Gabriella Alexis Cartagena was reported missing on February 5, 2026, after being last seen the previous afternoon at Red Arrow Park in Marinette, Wisconsin. What began as a routine missing person case quickly escalated into a chilling investigation marked by a desperate phone call that has haunted her family and investigators alike.

Cartagena was last spotted around 5 p.m. on February 4 at the park, a popular local spot along the Menominee River. Authorities believe she was accompanied by her 29-year-old boyfriend, Robert Chilcote, who was the last person known to have been with her. During the search, police uncovered evidence pointing to foul play at the park, including signs of possible blood and disturbances in the snow-covered area. Witnesses reported hearing an argument in the vicinity around the time of her disappearance, adding to the growing suspicion.

The turning point came from a harrowing phone call placed to her family shortly after 7 p.m. that evening. Family members described hearing Cartagena in distress, crying and pleading, “Please don’t shoot me. I’m sorry.” The call originated from the Red Arrow Park area, according to cell phone data, before abruptly ending. This recording became a pivotal piece of evidence, shifting the case from a voluntary disappearance to an involuntary one involving potential violence.

Investigators from the Marinette Police Department, working alongside the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, tracked Chilcote’s movements using cell tower pings. Data showed he traveled across the border into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, specifically the Menominee County area, before heading westward. Chilcote was eventually located in Minnesota, where he led authorities on a dramatic 16-minute high-speed pursuit reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. The chase ended when his vehicle lost control after hitting tire-deflating devices deployed by deputies. Officers recovered several firearms from the car, including an AR-15 rifle with a loaded magazine on the passenger seat.

On February 10, search teams discovered Cartagena’s body in a wooded area off Birch Creek Road near Highway 41 in Menominee County, Michigan—just across the state line from Marinette. The grim find ended an intense multi-state manhunt and confirmed the worst fears of her loved ones. An autopsy was scheduled shortly after to determine the exact cause of death, with results expected to guide further charges.

Chilcote remains in custody in Minnesota on charges related to fleeing police and being a fugitive from justice, with a $100,000 bond set. He has not yet faced formal charges in connection with Cartagena’s death, but authorities have indicated that the investigation is ongoing and collaborative across jurisdictions.

Cartagena leaves behind a young 3-year-old daughter, and her family has expressed profound grief over the loss. The case has shocked the tight-knit communities of Marinette and nearby areas, highlighting the dangers of domestic violence and the swift response of law enforcement in cross-border incidents. As details continue to emerge, the focus remains on justice for Gabriella and support for those she left behind.