Robert Alan Chilcote was arrested by the Wright County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on charges of fleeing police in a motor vehicle and second-degree assault. The Marinette Police Department named Chilcote as a person of interest in the case of Gabriela Cartagena, who was recently found dead in Menominee, Mich. (Photo courtesy of Wright County Sheriff's Office)

MARINETTE – A 24-year-old Marinette woman who was reported missing last week has been found dead, according to the Marinette Police Department.

On Tuesday morning, Gabriella Cartagena’s body was found in a wooded area near Birch Creek Road in Menominee County, Mich.

On Thursday, Feb. 5 at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Marinette Police Department received a report of a possible missing person. It was reported that Cartagena was last seen by her family at her residence at approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Her last known contact with her family is reported to have been a phone call with her mother on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at approximately 7:19 p.m. During this phone call, Cartagena was heard saying, “Please don’t shoot me.”

During a press conference Thursday, Marinette Police stated Cartagena was believed to be with her boyfriend, Robert Chilcote, in the area of Red Arrow Park within the City of Marinette during this same time.

This area is believed to be where the “main incident” occurred, according to Marinette Police Chief Jon LaCombe.

Witnesses in the area of the park told police they heard arguing around the time Cartagena and Chilcote are believed to have been in the park.

Marinette Police Department officers arrived at Red Arrow Park shortly after receiving the report. Public Information Officer Brad Beyle stated officers “immediately recognized evidence that indicated this area was a potential crime scene.”

LaCombe later noted that there was snow cover the day of the discovery, adding, “Looking around the scene, we found some signs of possible blood and other disturbances in the area, which led us to believe that this was a scene we needed to focus on from the start.”

Beyle stated, “On February 5th, all the way through to February 9th, our department worked diligently and was able to gather information that narrowed down the search for Gabriella to an area in Menominee County. Law enforcement agencies continuously searched that area in an effort to find Gabriella.”

Nearly two and a half hours after Cartagena was reported missing, the department sent a request for assistance to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota as they identified Chilcote as a person of interest in Cartagena’s case.

During the department’s investigation, they were able to locate video from the park area of Chilcote leaving Red Arrow Park and heading to Birch Creek Boat Launch. Residential cameras placed Chilcote in Menominee.

Chilcote’s vehicle’s plate number and color were sent out statewide. The department stated that through investigative techniques, law enforcement determined Chilcote fled to the Minnesota area where he was arrested by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office after he led deputies on a 16-minute chase.

There were several firearms found in Chilcote’s vehicle, according to Marinette police.

The Wright County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Daily Press that Chilcote has a warrant from the City of Marinette and is being held on two felony-level crimes of fleeing police in a motor vehicle and second-degree assault. The assault charge stems from Chilcote almost hitting a police officer with his vehicle.

Chilcote is being held on a $100,000 bond.

According to Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow, Cartagena’s autopsy was being conducted Thursday. Upon receiving the autopsy results, her office will review the results for potential charges to be filed against Chilcote. The extradition procedure from Minnesota would then be enacted.

It is unknown why Chilcote fled to the Minnesota area, as he lived with Cartagena in the Marinette area.

The agencies that assisted the Marinette Police Department include the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, the Menominee Police Department, the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota and the Marinette County District Attorney’s Office.

“I also want to thank the communities of Marinette and Menominee for their vital role in this investigation,” LaCombe said. “Community members stepped forward providing video footage, sharing information and reporting tips. Your cooperation and willingness to assist law enforcement made a significant difference and exemplifies the strength of our communities when we work together.”

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.