In a chilling development, authorities in Pennsylvania have unearthed human remains in the basement of a man recently convicted of murdering his wife, as reported by The Independent.
The discovery was made in the former residence of Brian Giles, 48, who was found guilty of first-degree murder last week. His wife, Nancy Giles, had been missing since October 2018, and her remains were discovered in May 2019 in a shallow grave near a trail on the Inclined Plane hillside in downtown Johnstown, where the couple resided.
The day following Giles' guilty verdict, police made another grim discovery in downtown Johnstown, this time in the basement of Giles' former home, buried under two to three feet of dirt. The police had been searching the residence in the city's Kernville section following a report of a possible body. The remains have yet to be identified, but the discovery comes in the wake of the disappearance of Giles' girlfriend, Jilly Todaro, who also resided in the Kernville home and went missing in December 2020, shortly after a reported domestic altercation.
Coroner Jeffrey Lees has described the death as "highly suspicious" and has promised a thorough and meticulous investigation. "The remains will be taken to Mercyhurst University in Erie on Monday for more forensic investigation," Lees stated. Following this, a ruling will be made on the cause and manner of death, and the body will be identified.
During Giles' trial, prosecutors painted a picture of a man who was verbally abusive to his wife, Nancy, and denied her access to a cellphone, according to WTAJ. Nancy's remains were found with fractures from blunt force trauma on the front and back of her skull, discovered by a man metal detecting in 2019. Giles was charged with her murder three years later.
Cambria County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Aurandt stated, "He (Giles) disposed of her (Nancy) body with the same degradation he showed in the years prior for her." Aurandt also alleged that Giles had concocted a total of 18 different stories about what happened to his wife. "Giles had the motive, the opportunity and the stories ready," she said, adding that Giles misled police and removed missing person posters.
Despite the damning evidence and accusations, Giles has staunchly maintained his innocence. Speaking to WWCP after his trial, he said, "Nope, I'm innocent, but if this is what they want to do let them do it, man." He added, "I've been railroaded before. It's all good. There ain't nothing I can hope for, right? Everybody got what they wanted."
Defense attorney Timothy Burns, who had cited his client's report of mental health struggles, described the guilty verdict as "disappointing" and said the defense would explore its options. Giles is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13 at 1 p.m. In Pennsylvania, first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence. The discovery of the remains in Giles' former home adds a new layer of complexity to an already disturbing case.
Login