Charred remains found in a Graysville, Tennessee, backyard were identified as 50-year-old Silvia Vilchez after deputies responded to a missing-person report. Her husband, 64-year-old David Gardiner, and her 18-year-old son, Gabriel Vilchez, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Investigators say Gabriel allegedly admitted to beating Silvia with a bat, dragging her to a fire pit and burning her body, and later claimed Gardiner watched and struck her; Gardiner denies involvement. A judge set Gardiner's bond at $250,000 and ordered Gabriel held without bail.
Tennessee Mother’s Charred Remains Found; Son and Stepfather Charged in Alleged Killing
Facebook; newschannel9Silvia Gabriella Vilchez (left); Gabriel Vilchez; and David Gardiner.
Charred remains discovered in a backyard fire pit at a Graysville, Tennessee, home have been identified as 50-year-old Silvia Vilchez, authorities say. The discovery followed a missing-person welfare check on Oct. 28, and investigators located the remains during a subsequent search on Oct. 30, the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
legacy.comSilvia Gabriella Vilchez
Arrests and Charges
Silvia’s husband, 64-year-old David Gardiner, and her 18-year-old son, Gabriel Vilchez, have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. A preliminary hearing in early December included testimony about statements allegedly made during police interviews and physical evidence found at the scene.
Sequatchie Co. Sheriff's OfficeGabriel Vilchez (left); and David Gardiner.
What Investigators Say
According to law enforcement testimony at a Dec. 8 hearing, officers searching the residence found a home office with reddish-brown staining and what appeared to be blood spatter on walls, a desk and a printer. Prosecutors say Gabriel allegedly admitted in an interview that he struck his mother with a bat inside the office, dragged her to a backyard fire pit and burned her body.
FacebookSilvia Gabriella Vilchez
In a subsequent interview, Gabriel allegedly told investigators that Gardiner watched the assault and also struck Silvia. Gardiner has told police he was asleep and denies involvement, according to court testimony.
Community Reaction and Background
The alleged killing has deeply unsettled Silvia’s family and her church community. Family members told local media that Silvia — known affectionately as "Gaby" — had brought Gabriel from Costa Rica to the United States to help him escape difficulties there. Relatives described her as a devoted mother and an active, generous presence in her local church.
At a bond hearing, a judge set Gardiner’s bond at $250,000 and ordered Gabriel held without bail. Plea entries and attorney information were not immediately available. The Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.
Resources
This story involves violence and may be distressing. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24/7: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. Calls are free, confidential and offered in more than 170 languages.
Reporting in this piece is based on law enforcement statements and court proceedings reported by local and national outlets. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive.
