Andrew B. Maul, a 36-year-old white male from Jacksonville, Illinois, tragically lost his life on September 11, 2015. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Jacksonville Police Department, where Andrew was shot to death by his former father-in-law, Robert H. Gill. The shooting took place around 6 PM on that fateful Friday evening. Following the shooting, Robert Gill set fire to the home of Andrew's mother, Debbie Bartz, before crashing his truck. He was subsequently arrested when he sought treatment at a hospital in Springfield.
Robert H. Gill, who was 64 years old at the time, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated residential arson. He pleaded guilty to one count of intentional murder in Andrew Maul's death and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Additionally, he received a four-year sentence for the arson charge. As part of the plea deal, three counts of murder and one count of residential arson were dismissed.
The investigation into Andrew Maul's death also led to unrelated charges against two family members of Robert Gill. Jewell R. Maul, 38, and Joyce E. Gill, 63, were arrested on charges of financial exploitation of a senior citizen. This investigation revealed evidence of another criminal act that had been ongoing for the past ten years. The charges were the result of a lengthy investigation by the Jacksonville Police Department and Special Prosecutor Ed Parkinson.
Andrew Maul's death and the subsequent legal proceedings had a profound impact on the community. He was remembered as a kind and passionate individual who loved spending time with his daughters and had a deep interest in ATV racing. His tragic death and the events that followed left a lasting mark on those who knew him.
