Accused pregnant teen killer pleads mental illness | WDHN

From left to right: Marquis McCloud, Anastasia Gilley

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) — A Henry County man accused of fatally shooting a pregnant 19-year-old woman in Florida last summer maintains his innocence on the basis of mental defect in a new plea .

At his arraignment Tuesday, Marquis McCloud pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness or defect.

McCloud is charged with one count of capital murder-kidnapping and one count of capital murder-two or more persons in the killing of Anastasia Gilley, 19, and her 4-month-old fetus.

Gilley's “severely decomposed body” was found in a Houston County field in early May 2023 after she disappeared from her Jackson County home.

At the time of the killing, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza said Gilley may have intentionally met McCoud in person after speaking to him through social media.

According to Sheriff Valenza, at some point after meeting in person, McCloud began detaining Gilley against her will and then shot her in a field near Headland Avenue.

McCloud's October 2023 indictment alleges that McCloud shot Gilley multiple times.

McCloud's trial is tentatively scheduled to begin July 29.

Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman said he plans to pursue this case personally and that if McCloud is convicted, his office will seek the death penalty.

Stay with WDHN for updates.