UPDATE — 2/11/26 at 2:26 p.m. ET: Gabriella Cartagena‘s family has since confirmed that the 24-year-old has been found dead.
The news was revealed on Tuesday, February 10, in a GoFundMe post.
“My name is Alpachino Cartagena, and I am the older brother of Gabriella Cartagena, who recently passed away,” the GoFundMe post began. “Gabriella’s passing was completely unexpected, and our family is still trying to process this sudden loss. During this incredibly difficult time, we are reaching out to our family, friends, and community for support. We are asking for any financial assistance you may be able to offer to help us give Gabriella the proper ceremony she deserves and to honor her life with dignity and love.”
Before Cartagena was found, Police Chief Jon LaCombe told FOX 11 that they did an “expanded search” for her on Sunday, February 8.
Original story:
A man wanted in connection to a crime in Wisconsin was tracked down in Minnesota following a chase that involved Wright County deputies — and he is now being held on $100,000 bail.
Robert Chilcote was taken into custody following a 16-minute pursuit that spanned 17 miles and involved 10 deputies, according to WBAY. After Chilcote, 29, was stopped by authorities, they searched his car and found an AR-15 rifle with an inserted magazine on the front passenger seat.
Chilcote was wanted by authorities in connection to the disappearance of 24-year-old Gabriella Cartagena. Her family members believed that Chilcote was the last person to see her at Red Arrow Park in Marinette, Wisconsin, on February 4. At the time, Cartagena reportedly made a phone call to her family in which she said, “Please don’t shoot me. I’m sorry.”
While he is a person of interest in the case, Chilcote has not been formally charged in connection to Cartagena’s disappearance.
The police chase involving Chilcote began on February 5 when the Wright County Sheriff’s Office was notified about a person who was wanted in connection with an aggravated assault and possible homicide, according to WBAY. The man was said to be driving a red Toyota Prius, and it was believed he had a firearm in the vehicle.
Once a deputy located the Prius, he initiated a traffic stop using emergency lights. However, Chilcote failed to comply with orders to get out of the vehicle during a high-risk stop and he drove away.
Chilcote drove over 100 mph and ignored traffic signals and stop signs as he tried to get away from police, according to a probable cause statement viewed by the outlet.
Deputies eventually set up stop sticks and Chilcote got stuck, which allowed police to stop him, and he was taken into custody.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Luxury Handbag Shopping that Chilcote is currently being held in police custody for fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle and for being a fugitive from justice from another state.
The Marinette Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding Chilcote’s alleged involvement in Cartagena’s disappearance.
“We are continuing to follow up on all leads and are attempting to obtain any camera footage which may assist us in our investigation,” Police Chief Jon LaCombe told FOX 11. “At this point I have no other information to provide, and we are still attempting to locate the whereabouts of the female.”
Meanwhile, several members of the community were involved in the search for Cartagena.
“It’s like time stands still because you just want answers and you want to find your loved one and you wanna know where they are if they’re OK or what happened,” Trysha Kehoe told WBAY. “There’s so many questions, and you’re just looking for answers.”
