A pregnant teenager from Florida who was reported missing has recently been found dead in Alabama. Her boyfriend, a convicted criminal, has been charged with her abduction and murder, according to authorities.
The remains of 19-year-old Anastasia Gilley, who was four months pregnant, were discovered near Headland, Alabama, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Following the heartbreaking discovery, Marquis McCloud, 33, was charged with her kidnapping and murder.
McCloud, whose criminal record includes a rape conviction, was already in police custody for several days but had not provided any assistance during the intensive search for Gilley. Initially held on a probation violation, investigators introduced the new charges after locating Gilley’s remains.
Last week, Gilley’s sister expressed her anguish in a social media post, revealing that a neighbor had heard Gilley screaming near her home around 10:30 p.m. on May 3. Subsequent police investigations revealed Gilley’s phone, purse, and other belongings abandoned inside her house, intensifying concerns of a malicious act. Notably, Gilley had missed a doctor’s appointment and failed to report to her workplace.
McCloud’s criminal past is not limited to the rape conviction. He also has a history of terror threats, robbery, battery, and violation of sex offender laws.
The cause of Gilley’s death is currently under investigation, with an autopsy underway. Investigative officers focused their attention on McCloud when they uncovered evidence of communication between him and Gilley prior to her disappearance.