'Person of Interest' In Dalene Carlson Murder Case Re-Arrested
STOCKTON (CBS13) -– One of the people police have called a "person of interest" in the murder of Dalene Carlson has been arrested for the second time and charged with her murder.
Stockton Police arrested 25-year-old Jason Gilley on Thursday morning on a charges murder, kidnapping and false imprisonment in connection with Carlson's death. Police aren't saying how Carlson died but two sources told CBS13 that she was shot in the head.
Carlson had been missing for more than two months before her body was found in an Escalon field last weekend.
Back in August, before Carlson's body was found, Stockton Police arrested Gilley in connection with Carlson's disappearance after they say he gave "inconsistent" statements.
Police arrested him on charges of kidnapping and holding Dalene against her will, but he was later released for lack of evidence.
At the time, detectives searched Gilley's home and car, but found no evidence pointing to Dalene's whereabouts. They seized more items from Gilley's home Thursday.
Police say Dalene knew Gilley for about a week before she disappeared the night of Aug. 7. They believe the night she went missing, she willingly left Finnegan's Bar and Grill with Gilley. A short time later, cameras at a nearby Food For Less captured the pair shopping.
Gilley first told police they parted ways at the pub, but he later admitted that the two had gone to his home, had sex, got into an argument and Carlson left on foot.
Gilley told police he followed her in his car, picked her up and drove her 40 miles south, dropping her off at an undisclosed location.
Jacob Evangelisti, who said he was Carlson's boyfriend at the time, said Carlson called him nine times from Gilley's residence that night asking if she could come over. Evangelisti said Carlson insisted on walking to his apartment by herself, but she never showed up.
"I just hope he rots and burns in hell," Evangelisti said Thursday after learning of Gilley's arrest. "He had a lot of hate towards her I guess."
But a cousin of Gilley's, Kelly Dubois, said she believes he's innocent. "I've known him since he was a baby. He couldn't hurt a fly," she said.
Police are not expecting to make other arrests in the case.
"Our number one priority is to make sure we put together best case we can," said Officer Pete Smith.
