Gavel. Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash
FRANKLIN COUNTY — A preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for a 55-year-old Franklin County man accused of killing his wife. Douglas James Gildemeister, who remains in the Cache County Jail, was in Felony Magistrate Court Wednesday.
Douglas has been charged with felony murder in the second-degree and delaying notification of a death. He is also facing a sentencing enhancement of the use of a deadly weapon.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on May 1 around 1 p.m., a Franklin County deputy met with Douglas after he requested to speak with law enforcement about a dispute that happened on Sunday night.
The suspect was accompanied by a witness that is unnamed in court documents.
Douglas told the deputy he and Gail Gildemeister got into a dispute. The 58-year-old woman accused the suspect of cheating on her and then pulled a gun on him, and that’s when he shot her.
Douglas was taken into custody and transferred to the sheriff’s office for questioning. He reportedly claimed that he did not do anything wrong. He said Gail pulled a gun on him and that she tried to “kill him,” court documents said. He then stated he wanted to contact an attorney and have one present before discussing further.
Douglas made several phone calls and, during those calls, made statements like, “I’m numb,” “I didn’t do anything wrong,” and “she tried to kill me.”
The deputy photographed Douglas and his clothing. He noticed a fresh scratch on his left calf and a scabbed abrasion on his left forearm with dried blood on it. The deputy asked if he had showered or changed clothes since the incident, and he said he had not, documents said. The deputy then asked if he could swab his hands for gunshot residue, and Douglas said yes. It was sent to the lab, and it showed presumptive positive for gunshot residue.
The deputy was then advised by the sheriff who was at the scene, that they had found a deceased woman inside the couple’s trailer and that she appeared to have been shot.
According to court records, Douglas appeared for the preliminary hearing, where a judge would have determined whether or not prosecutors have sufficient evidence in the case. The hearing was postponed until June 14.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.