Downers Grove Man Gets 100 Years For Killing Wife, Unborn Child
WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- A Downers Grove man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for stabbing his wife and their unborn child to death last year.
Eric Gilford, 36, was sentenced by DuPage County Judge Kathryn Creswell Wednesday for the murder of his wife, Kristine Gilford, the county State's Attorney's office announced.
On June 10, Gilford pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and murder of an unborn child.
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Gilford came to the home of an acquaintance in Villa Park on May 26, 2010, knowing his wife was there. He stabbed her to death when he got inside.
Kristine's young daughter, who was celebrating her fourth birthday that day, witnessed the murder, prosecutors said. The young girl was not hurt.
Gilford, a member of the U.S. Navy, then fled the state.
Gilford was charged with the murder based upon evidence gathered at the crime scene by Villa Park police, according to the release. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Navy conducted a nationwide man hunt for Gilford.
On August 6, 2010, Gilford was apprehended by authorities in Jackson, Wyo. At the time of his arrest, Gilford was residing at a local mission under an alias name.
Following his extradition to Illinois, Gilford was ordered held without bond.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
