Convicted killer Russell Tillis gets 2 life sentences plus 30 extra years
Tillis, 60, guilty of kidnapping & killing 30-year-old Joni Gunter
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Tillis sentenced
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A judge on Tuesday sentenced convicted killer Russell Tillis to two life sentences plus 30 extra years.
Tillis, 60, was found guilty in April of first-degree murder, kidnapping and dismemberment in the death of 30-year-old Joni Gunter. For the counts of murder and kidnapping, Tillis received back-to-back life sentences. For the count of abuse of a dead body, he got 30 extra years.
Tillis has been sentenced to 2 life sentences for murder & kidnapping + 30 extra years for dismemberment of dead human body @wjxt4 Scott Johnson (@WJXTScottJ) June 1, 2021
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Here are five things to know about the case per Times-Union news partner First Coast News:
1. What is the case about?
Tillis is charged with murder, kidnapping, human trafficking and abuse of a dead human body in the death of Joni Gunter, believed to be about 30 when she died. In February 2016, Gunter’s dismembered remains were found buried in three holes in the backyard of Tillis’ Southside home at 3551 E. Bowden Circle.
According to prosecutors, Gunter died of blunt force trauma to the head sometime between Feb. 3, 2014, and May 28, 2015 (the day Tillis was arrested on unrelated charges). Gunter was identified when DNA samples taken from her remains matched DNA on file with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.