Daniel Gillstrap (center) has been convicted of murdering Stiles Stilley. He and Marshall Fleming (left) beat the victim to death, and Elizabeth Allen (right) served as the getaway driver, authorities said. (Mug shots: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Georgia jurors on Wednesday convicted the final defendant for ambushing a former housemate in a deadly theft plot. Daniel Gillstrap, 43, was found guilty of charges including malice murder from when he and the other killer, Marshall Fleming, beat Stiles Stilley to death on Sept. 16, 2022.
Fleming, 24, was convicted of charges back on Sept. 1 and was sentenced to consecutive terms of life without parole and life with parole. Gillstrap was sentenced to consecutive terms of life without parole.
Both men became acquainted with Stilley in the month of the murder, authorities have said. They promised to help him maintain his broken-down home. Gillstrap stayed for a bit, while Fleming remained until Sept. 9, when the electric company switched off the power for non-payment.
Desperate for money, the two defendants came up with a plan to steal Stilley’s car.
Fleming got Allen, “his recent love interest,” to drive him and Gillstrap to Stilley’s home. The victim was not there. The men entered with a key they already had from staying at the victim’s home. As Allen waited in the vehicle, Fleming called Stilley and lured him back to the house. The men ambushed him on his return, with Fleming hitting him on the head with bolt cutters.
“The victim was beaten and his body was bound with duct tape,” prosecutors wrote. “The victim’s head was wrapped in duct tape covering all but his nostrils. The victim was carried to the bathroom and the doors were barricaded. The defendants then fled. Gillstrap stole the victim’s car and fled in it. Allen, who had remained in the car in the driveway, drove Fleming away from the scene.”
It was two days later that the family found Stilley dead and bound in duct tape on the bathroom floor.
Allen, 23, pleaded guilty after Fleming’s trial as the getaway driver and for helping cover up the crime. She agreed to testify against Gillstrap in exchange for serving 12 years in prison with another three years of probation to follow.
“This case was a brutal and vicious attack on Stiles Stilley’s life,” Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine said. “The defendants showed no remorse and continued to victimize Mr. Stilley and his family even after his death. We applaud the diligent efforts of law enforcement and the prosecution team in holding these defendants accountable. We continue to remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.”
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