Ellen Gilland, Florida woman sentenced to 1 year jail for shooting and killing terminally ill husband at Daytona Beach hospital. Had faced up to 10 years prior to pleading no contest.
A Florida woman who admitted shooting and killing her terminally ill husband inside a Daytona Beach hospital was on Friday sentenced to one year and one day jail. The sentencing comes after the woman pleaded no contest in December and had previously faced up to 10 years in prison.
Ellen Gilland of Volusia County was sentenced to 366 days in prison, including 42 days served, as well as 12 years probation.
Gilland, 78, will also have to perform 8 hours of community service a month and write letters of apologies to the other people on the hospital floor and the officers involved in the incident, FOX35 reported.
Florida woman seeks to end terminally ill husband’s suffering and misery
Investigators say Gilland shot her 77-year-old husband, Jerry Gilland, inside AdventHealth Daytona Beach hospital in 2023.
Gilland said she had a pact with him to kill herself after taking his life, but couldn’t go through with it. Gilland who regarded Jerry as the ‘love of her life,’ had been married for 53 years.
She also fired shots at hospital staff and police. On the day of the shooting, Gilland barricaded herself inside the 11th-floor room for hours, where she had moments earlier shot and killed her husband.
Gilland, who was out on bond was taken into custody following her sentencing and to begin serving her time.
Leading into sentencing, Gilland had pleaded no contest to manslaughter with a firearm and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prior to her no contest plea, Gilland had been indicted on charges of assisting in self-murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and a count of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a firearm. She had faced 10 years jail.
Family members hoped that Florida wife may be spared jail time
Prior to being handed her sentence on Friday, Gilland testified in front of the court.
‘I held the gun behind his ear. I pulled it away and asked him if, he was sure,’ she reportedly said. ‘He raised his hand; and placed it on my arm and pushed the gun to his head. There was a loud bang, and he was gone.’
Testimony from a nurse who was working at the hospital at the time of the shooting made clear that he was severely impacted.
‘I didn’t feel safe anymore,’ said Hector Aponte. ‘I left my job. I have nightmares at night.’
While Judge Kathryn Weston did accept part of Gilland’s testimony, it’s thought that the nurse’s statements along with the trauma experienced by responding officers being fired on may have been enough to persuade the judge to send Gilland to prison.
Family members nevertheless had expressed optimism that Gilland might avoid jail time all together.
‘I really thought I’d be bringing her home today,’ one of her nieces Bo Timme told WESH. ‘I’m a little bit shocked and, I’m very worried about her. but I’m told it’s fair and that it’s actually a good outcome.’
Gilland did barricade herself in the room for several hours and threatened to shoot anyone who came in.
‘We’re very thankful again to judge Weston and showing compassion to Ms. Gilland and taking into consideration all the mitigation that we provided,’ defense attorney Matthew Ferry said.
At the sentencing, a group in favor of ‘end of life’ options said it plans to hold a rally.
They claim this case could have been avoided if Florida had a ‘Medical Aid in Dying’ law.
