Michael Gilbert

Case record: Michael Gilbert

Background

Michael Gilbert was 27. His wife, Jennifer Gilbert, was 25, and they had been married for three years. After Jennifer Gilbert’s death, a single funeral was planned for the family at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Suamico, where the couple was married.

The Gilberts had no record of domestic violence and lived quietly in their two-story home.

A cousin of Jennifer Gilbert, Tami Gerondale, described the couple’s deaths as the result of a rare behavior known as erotic suffocation or strangulation used to enhance sex. She said that after Jennifer Gilbert died, her husband Mike Gilbert "touched the phone several times" but nobody had come forward and said they talked to him. She also said, "It took him awhile to decide what he was going to do. For at least six hours he contemplated different ways. We will always wonder why he chose to do what he did."

Gerondale said the family had some relief in learning the couple was engaged in a sexual act that went horribly wrong and that the tragedy unfolded from there. She said, "The way she died, she was not threatened." She added, "It was a loving act on her part and Mike's part. It was a sexual act that just went wrong." She declined to be more specific, citing respect for the couple's privacy.

Police have said Jennifer Gilbert apparently allowed Michael Gilbert to asphyxiate her by putting something around her neck, but he did not mean to kill her.

There was also mention of a form of sexual play called asphyxiophilia, in which one partner chokes the other during sex.

The offence

On the night of June 13, 1999, Michael Gilbert and Jennifer Gilbert decided to engage in erotic asphyxia. A contributor described erotic asphyxia as "the practice involves one partner depriving the other of oxygen close to or at orgasm." The same contributor also described it as "a little-known technique for heightening the intensity of an orgasm."

Jennifer Gilbert’s death was described as the result of pressure applied during erotic asphyxia. Police said there were no signs of struggling or marks or injuries indicating a struggle or resistance when her body was discovered.

After killing his wife, Michael Gilbert then killed their children: their 1-year-old daughter, Evangeline, and their 2-month-old son, Ivan. A relative described that Michael Gilbert went to the bedrooms of the couple's two children and strangled Evangeline and Ivan.

Investigation

A police spokesman, Green Bay police spokesman Gregory R., said: "It is our belief that it was not Mike's intent to harm Jennifer."

The head investigator also said: "If the children were alive and Michael were alive, I do not believe he would be facing intentional homicide charges in the case of Jennifer's death."

The coroner (or state medical officer) said: "Jennifer's death would probably be classified as second-degree reckless homicide. Because of the facts surrounding her death, Michael most likely would not have faced charges."

Police continued to refuse to release more details beyond stating that investigators had recovered what they believed was used to strangle Jennifer Gilbert.

When Jennifer Gilbert’s body was discovered, the police said: "There were no signs of her struggling or marks or injuries to her to indicate a struggle or resistance."

Dr. Janet Hyde, a professor of psychology with a speciality in human sexuality at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said: "There is no evidence it does. The only possibility is the feeling of terror makes you feel more excited." Hyde also said, "People need to be warned it is dangerous. We have a great case to prove it," and stated: "Studies and research indicate perhaps 300 to 500 people die each year from the behavior."

Arrest

No arrest was described, because Michael Gilbert died by suicide after the deaths.

Trial

No trial was described.

Sentencing

No sentencing was described.

Appeals

No appeal was described.

Outcome

The four family members—Jennifer Gilbert, Michael Gilbert, their 1-year-old daughter Evangeline, and their 2-month-old son Ivan—were found dead by a relative. They had been asphyxiated.

Michael Gilbert died by a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning and large doses of drugs and alcohol on the same day as Jennifer Gilbert’s death. Before that, he had slit his wrist, drank alcohol in the house, and took almost all the drugs in the house. He also started the car in the garage.

Aftermath

After learning that Michael Gilbert had not been into work for two days, Jennifer Gilbert’s father went to their two-story home, found the door locked, and climbed in through an open upstairs window. Within minutes, police were all over the place.

A relative said: "We wish it hadn't happened," and: "If only Michael had called for help after he realised Jenny was dead. He obviously lost it. But we don't feel any anger toward him."

A contributor noted that why Michael Gilbert, after accidentally killing his wife, would engage in more death instead of contacting authorities or other relatives remained a mystery.

There was to be a single funeral for the family at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Suamico.

Timeline

• 13 June 1999 — Michael Gilbert and Jennifer Gilbert decided to spice up their lovemaking by trying erotic asphyxia; Jennifer Gilbert died after being asphyxiated.
• 13 June 1999 — Michael Gilbert attempted suicide using carbon monoxide poisoning and large doses of drugs and alcohol; he also slit his wrist and started the car in the garage.
• Following day (after 13 June 1999) — Jennifer Gilbert’s father entered the locked home through an open upstairs window; police arrived within minutes and the family deaths were discovered.
• 19 June 1999 — An Associated Press update reported that a sexual act that "just went wrong" killed Jennifer Gilbert and that her husband may have thought about calling for help before killing their two young children and then himself.

Other details

Michael Gilbert’s age was 27 and Jennifer Gilbert’s age was 25.

The children were Evangeline (1-year-old) and Ivan (2-month-old).

A contributor reported: "The tragedy has focused attention on a rare behavior, known as erotic suffocation or strangulation, as a way to enhance sex."

Tami Gerondale said that she would always wonder why he chose to do what he did, quoting: "It took him awhile to decide what he was going to do.

The Associated Press update quoted: "We will always wonder why he chose to do what he did," from Tami Gerondale.

Police continued to refuse to release more details other than saying investigators had recovered what they believed was used to strangle Jennifer Gilbert.

The contributor also stated that there would be a single funeral for the family at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Suamico where the couple was married two years earlier.