www.justiceforchandra.com

[gozgals]

The Biggest Gamble
A Young Woman Vanishes After A Night Of Gambling

Feb. 15, 2007

(CBS) Christie Wilson was a beautiful 27-year-old woman beloved by her family and friends. One October night in 2005, she spent six hours in a California casino gambling at the blackjack tables with a man she'd just met. Wilson left the casino with him that night and was never seen again. But the casino itself is outfitted with 700 cameras that capture the movements of gamblers everywhere.

48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty follows the story and examines the never-publicly-seen before videotape that may identify a killer this Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

After her disappearance, Wilson had one powerful advocate on her side. Her stepfather, Pat Boyd, a well-respected and well-connected detective in California, told investigators he had a hunch who was responsible for his daughter's disappearance: her boyfriend, Danny Burlando. In fact, Burlando and Wilson were arrested for a domestic disturbance a few months earlier.

But the Wilson case was not quite that simple, especially when investigators got a look at the casino's extensive security system that had videotaped nearly every move Wilson made that night.

Wilson is dramatically captured on tape leaving the casino and walking into the parking lot with a 54-year-old man named Mario Garcia. She walks out of the frame with Garcia, leaving her exact whereabouts in those last few critical moments a mystery. The cameras do show Garcia driving off, apparently alone, moments later.

The mystery deepened because Garcia was a successful upper-middle class husband and doting father to two teenage sons with a million-dollar home — making him a seemingly unlikely suspect.

But that was before detectives learned about his arrest for allegedly raping and kidnapping an ex-girlfriend more than 25 years earlier. Wendy Ward, a woman who alleged Garcia violently raped her in 1979, talks publicly to 48 Hours for the first time about her ordeal.

That was not all Garcia was hiding. A long-forgotten cold case in which two other women died in a suspicious car accident was brought to light. Investigators could never prove who was driving the car, only that Garcia was lucky enough to be the sole survivor.

But despite Garcia's past, the murder case against him is still hardly a lock. It will come down to circumstantial evidence and the question of whether the prosecution is able to convict a man whose past cannot be entered into evidence. Prosecutors also have no body, no eyewitnesses, no murder weapon and no cause of death.

Garcia speaks to Moriarty in a network exclusive about his violent past and his interactions with Christie Wilson that night. Is he innocent or is he hiding something deadly? And what will he say to Moriarty under intense questioning?

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/48hours/main3410.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/15/48hours/main2483409.shtml


Comments: What happened to Christie and who is responsible for this crime? I will be tuning in to watch this episode to find out some answers to these questions on this case.

Gozgals

[rd]

What are your thoughts on this, goz? Was her car left in the parking lot so that she could have been in the trunk of his car? Why was he seen driving away but not her?

Wow, both a serious domestic problem and last seen with a man with a dangerous past. Sadly, not surprising she hasn't been seen since.

rd

[gozgals]

Rd

Garcia was charged with the crime and sentenced with first degree murder. I think this sentence is well deserved and I agree with the jury. The boyfriend, even though the relationship with Christie was turbulent was cleared and his records (computer, cell, text) were studied by the police department. They appeared to have a love/hate relationship even though it was speculated she was thinking about breaking off the relationship. I feel Garcia, though they did not have body, is most assuredly responsible for the death of Christie due to the factual evidence that points to him being the only viable person that could have committed this crime.

I feel he may not have lured her to the car in a sense but she may have been gambling with him most of the night. Her funds may have run short (she borrowed a 100.00 chip from the ER Dr. at the BJ table) and Garcia was well aware of this fact. He probably provided her with needed cash most of the night and possibly they had even met before at the casino and were gambling acquaintances. They moved from table to table and played BJ. She possibly did leave her cellphone out in the car, or was afraid to face her boyfriend after losing the money he gave her gambling and went willingly with Garcia to his car. I could not really be sure by the video surveillance tape if she looked forced in anyway.

I feel Garcia had been planning for quite sometime to rape a women, not Christie per say but any women. He probably had an initial plan ahead of time and was waiting for the right opportunity to put this in action. This evening presented him with the perfect time to follow through. Christie, feeling safe walked with him to his car, he either may have drugged her before this period, or once out in by the car, (him knowing where the cameras were located), knocked her out and put her in the trunk. This is why he appeared to be driving off alone. When, and if she was unconscious?, and did wake up at some point, a fight occurred and he received the scratches which were the prime reason I believe he is the culprit in the heinous murder. From the witness accounts, Garcia showed no scratches during the BJ sessions yet they were present the next day on his face and chest.

The DNA and hair found in his car are also indications of Christie being with him and in the car. This also presuaded me and swayed me to believe he is guilty. He did present as a good con artist as they all do. No remorse at all.

Another reason he had to be the one to murder Christie was his past is a definite indicator of the violent type of predator he really is. Remember the judge added the charge of a strike to his sentence which means there is no chance he will ever be free again. I am resting well knowing he will never see the light of day and harm another woman. I knew, and know he will never tell where the body is located and probably also picked the burial area for the body beforehand too. I think this homicide was calculated and well thought out and not a spur of the moment crime.

Gozgals

[gozgals]

http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=21743


Garcia Guilty of First Degree Murder
Written for the web by Deborah Hoffman, Reporter

Christie Wilson went missing October 5, 2005

Debbie Boyd, mother of Wilson, reacts to guilty verdict

A Sacramento jury Tuesday found Mario Garcia guilty of first degree murder in the killing of Christie Wilson. He was also convicted of possession of a deadly weapon (a collapsible baton).

Wilson's family yelled, "Yes!" when the verdict was read in Sacramento County Superior Court. Wilson's mother, Debbie Boyd cried and hugged her husband.

There was no visible reaction from Garcia's sons and wife who left the courtroom shortly after the verdict was read. Garcia also showed little emotion, although his attorney said his client was "stunned" by the verdict.

"He has nothing to do with the disappearance of Christie Wilson," said Ron Peters. "He maintains his innocence."

Garcia was accused of killing the 27-year-old woman sometime after the two left Thunder Valley Casino in the early morning hours of October 5, 2005.

The jurors said they agreed early in the deliberations that Garcia was guilty, but they spent a long time deciding among first-degree murder, second-degree or voluntary manslaughter.

Juror Ray Valdovino of Sacramento said he thought Garcia hurt himself by taking the stand in his defense. Valdovino said Garcia's testimony contradicted the evidence that was presented.

Investigators believe Wilson was murdered in Placer County, but the trial was moved to Sacramento County because of pre-trial publicity. It was the first murder case prosecuted in Placer County without a body.

The jury began deliberations in the case on Thursday.

News10's Deborah Hoffman and Mark Hedlund have more on the verdict, reaction and jury comments (see video links above).


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Mario Garcia Murder Case Timeline

October 5, 2005: Surveillance video captures Wilson and Garcia leaving Thunder Valley Casino.

October 9, 2005: Garcia is first questioned by Placer County sheriff's detectives.

October 11, 2005: Wilson's mother takes part in her first TV interview regarding her daughter's disappearance.

October 15, 2005: Garcia is arrested on weapons charge.

October 18, 2005: Garcia is arraigned on the weapons charge and his attorney denies he has anything to do with disappearance of Wilson.

October 28, 2005: Garcia is formally charged with the murder of Wilson.

November 1, 2005: Garcia pleads not guilty to murder charges.

November 30, 2005: Garcia's preliminary hearing begins in Placer County.

December 12, 2006: Garcia's murder case is moved from Placer County to Sacramento County due to pre-trial publicity.

September 18, 2006: Attorneys begin questioning prospective jurors.

September 19, 2006: Ten men and two women are chosen as jurors. Three men and two women are chosen as alternate jurors.

September 25, 2006: Trial begins with opening arguments.

September 26, 2006: Wilson's mother takes the stand.

October 3, 2006: Jurors watch Thunder Valley Casino surveillance video.

November 6, 2006: Jurors hear DNA evidence.

November 7, 2006: Prosecution rests its case.

November 9, 2006: Garcia takes the stand.

November 13, 2006: Defense rests its case.

November 15, 2006: Jurors hear closing arguments.

November 16, 2006: Jury begins deliberations.

[rd]

Yes, goz. I am very happy to see that making a woman disappear no longer lets you get away scott free.

rd