Carol Gilbert, a 30-year-old white female, was tragically murdered on January 19, 1980, in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Her husband, William Wayne Gilbert, was arrested later that day following an incident involving gunfire at the American Sandwich Shop in Albuquerque. During police questioning, William confessed to multiple murders, including that of his wife, Carol Gilbert.
William Wayne Gilbert was tried by jury and convicted in the District Court of Valencia County for the first-degree murder of his wife, Carol Gilbert. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition to Carol's murder, William confessed to the killings of Barbara McMullen, Kenn Johnson, and Noel Johnson. These crimes were characterized by their brutality, with all victims fatally shot.
William Wayne Gilbert's criminal activities extended beyond these murders. He was also convicted of kidnapping, rape, and conspiracy to escape. Initially sentenced to death for the murders of Kenn and Noel Johnson, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. William died on July 30, 2002, at the age of 52, due to complications from liver disease while incarcerated at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas.
Carol Gilbert was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her untimely death remains a somber reminder of the tragic events that unfolded in early 1980.
