A 78-year-old woman has pleaded no contest to manslaughter with a firearm and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the killing of her terminally ill husband. Ellen Gilland, who was scheduled to go on trial in January 2025, entered the plea in court, agreeing to a 10-year cap on her sentence and the waiver of a mandatory minimum for one of the aggravated assault charges. She is set to be sentenced in February.
The incident occurred on January 21, 2023, at Advent Health Hospital, where Gilland shot her 77-year-old husband, Jerry Gilland, as part of a suicide pact they had planned. The couple had allegedly arranged the killing weeks earlier, with Jerry initially intending to shoot himself but being too frail to carry out the act. According to investigators, while Jerry loaded the gun, Ellen held it to his head as he tried to assist her.
Following the shooting, Ellen Gilland barricaded herself in the hospital room with a firearm. Police arrived and found her holding the gun, aiming it at officers. Despite their efforts to negotiate, she refused to surrender, and officers were forced to use a taser, which failed to subdue her. At one point, she fired a round at the ceiling, which was believed to be intended for the officers. Further investigation revealed a significant amount of live ammunition in the room and in her vehicle.
Although defense experts argued that Gilland was not a significant danger to herself or others, prosecutors contended that her actions posed a direct threat to hospital staff and patients. They emphasized the seriousness of her bringing a loaded weapon into a hospital and firing it in a public setting. Gilland’s defense included testimony from family members who expressed their willingness to care for her if released, with one niece offering her home as a place of residence.
The case has raised concerns about the complexities of assisted suicide and the potential dangers of such arrangements. While prosecutors acknowledged the emotional weight of the situation, they argued that the risks posed by Gilland’s actions were too great to ignore. The plea deal will result in a reduced sentence, with the final decision on sentencing to be made in February.
