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Case #14701 Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Dog-fighting
Ocala, FL (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Nov 5, 2000
County: Marion
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Marvin Travis Wilkerson
Marvin Travis Wilkerson - a machine operator at Target Container - was killed in his home on Sunday evening, October 5, 2008. He was shot after answering the door.
Sheriff's Office investigators were pursuing leads in the case, including possible connections to dogfighting. Nine pit-bull terriers were removed from the property and taken to the Marion County Animal Center. Investigators said at least one dog carried signs of recent dogfighting.
Marvin Wilkerson had pleaded no contest to a dogfighting charge in 2002.
"I want to find out who did this to my husband. I've no hatred for them. I just want to know who did this so I can move on with my life," Deborah Wilkerson said.
Though it has been two days since the shooting, Deborah Wilkerson refuses to go into the home they onced shared. She doesn't want to live there once the yellow crime scene tape, which surrounds the home, is removed.
"I don't want to go back in there. I felt I've been invaded," she said.
A Marion County native and the fourth of 17 children, Marvin Wilkerson worked as a machine operator at Target Container, a box company, for more than 15 years. Wilkerson's wife said he was a "friendly, outgoing and loveable father."
At the time of the shooting, Deborah Wilkerson said she was getting ready for church at the United Holiness Church of Christ Deliverance Center in Ocala. Her father-in-law, the Rev. Grant Wilkerson Jr., is pastor there.
Then she heard someone ring the doorbell.
She went to the door but, without opening it, saw she didn't recognize the person, Deborah Wilkerson said. So she went to their bedroom and told her husband someone was at the door and that it might be for him.
He was watching football at the time and wearing shorts but no shirt. He left the room and went to the door. Deborah Wilkerson said she heard something about dog food, and then she heard a shot.
She then locked herself in her daughter's room and could hear her husband saying, "No, no." He told her to run, she said. Deborah Wilkerson said she waited until a second man entered the home before busting out the window screen and running next door.
"All I could think of was just to run and get help," she said.
She said she didn't get a good look at either man. She did say there was a four-door, white car parked in the yard.
Deborah Wilkerson said she heard at least two shots and that her husband was hit at least once in the left side. She said doctors believe he bleed to death.
Sheriff's officials would not confirm the location of the gunshot wound.
"He was a generous man who would help anyone," said Russell Wilkerson, one of the victim's brothers.
Russell Wilkerson said he praying at another church that belongs to his father in South Carolina between 6:30 and 6:40 p.m. when he learned of his brother's death.
Deborah Wilkerson said she didn't know anything about dogfighting. She said she knew the dogs were there but never heard of any illegal activities.
"He had that much respect for the home that whatever he did, he didn't bring it to the home," Russell Wilkerson said.
Christy Jergens, animal programs coordinator at the Animal Center, said the nine dogs were there on a "Sheriff's Office hold."
Six of them have scars, she said. The scars are on the dogs' mouths, faces, upper bodies, legs and backs. It was not immediately clear whether the old injuries were caused by dogfighting.
One of the dogs was brought in with a heavy piece of chain stuck in its teeth.
Deborah Wilkerson is asking anyone who knows anything about the case to come forward and talk with detectives. Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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