A day after the murder conviction of a Pennsylvania man’s wife, human remains were found at his home, possibly related to his missing girlfriend.
After about an hour of deliberations, the jury found 48-year-old Brian Giles guilty Thursday of first-degree murder and aggravated assault for the death of his wife, Nancy Giles, the Bedford Gazette reports. Giles, according to investigators, has a history of crimes against women, including, in part, assault and terroristic threats.
Following Thursday’s verdict, a warrant was executed citing “specific information” for Giles’s apartment, in the 500 block of Franklin Street in Johnstown’s Kernville area. Human remains were found during the investigation. Currently, it is unknown if the remains are related to Brian’s missing girlfriend, Jilly Todaro.
According to Cambrige County Corner Jeffrey Lees, the death was classified as “highly suspicious.” He reportedly said investigators are taking all necessary precautions to handle the case with dignity and respect.
While Cambria County District Attorney Gregory Neugebauer declined to comment on which case the search was related to, he did agree with Lees that the location of the body was suspicious.
“At this point, we’re not going to have a lot else to provide until we get a positive identification,” Neugebauer said.
Todaro disappeared in December 2020, a few days after a reported domestic altercation.
The Tribune-Democrat reported that Nancy vanished from their Johnstown home in October 2018. Her remains were later found along the James Wood Sculpture Trail, near the Johnstown Inclined Plane. in a shallow grave in May 2019.
Brian was arrested for his wife’s death in May of 2022.
Testimony during the trial stated that either of the fractures from blunt force trauma on the front and back of Nancy’s skull could have killed her, according to experts’ testimony.
Brian maintains his innocence.
“Nope I’m innocent but if this is what they want to do let them do it, man. I’ve been railroaded before. It’s all good. There ain’t nothing I can hope for, right? Everybody got what they wanted.”
Timeline of Events
- October 18, 2018: Nancy Giles disappears.
- May 26, 2019: Skeletal remains are found along the James Wood Sculpture Trail near the Inclined Plan hillside.
- May 29, 2019: Skeletal are remains identified as Nancy Giles.
- July 3, 2019: Giles is charged with assaulting a woman at the Johnstown apartment complex.
- July 7, 2019: Giles is charged with assault after a dispute with a woman at the CamTran bus terminal.
- September 16, 2019: The apartment assault charges are dropped.
- October 21, 2019 Nancy Giles’s death is ruled a homicide.
- December 11, 2020: Domestic altercation allegedly occurs between Giles and Todaro at an apartment.
- December 13, 2020: Todaro disappears.
- December 23, 2020: Police search the defendant’s apartment.
- February 18, 2021: Clump of human hair, women’s clothing and cleaning supplies are found at the apartment, along with a letter, allegedly written by Todaro, saying she left for a new lover.
- May 6, 2021: Charges are filed against Giles for making terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct by a woman at the CamTran bus terminal.
- May 14, 2021: Police search the defendant’s home again for Todaro.
- September 24, 2021: Giles is sentenced to 6-16 months with 3 years of probation for threatening to kill a woman.
- May 14, 2022: Giles is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and hindering prosecution in connection with Nancy Giles’s death.
- June 3, 2024: The trial begins.
- June 6, 2024: GIles is found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated assault for killing his wife.
- June 7, 2024: Human remains are found in his apartment’s basement.
The judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for August 13 at 1 p.m. A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory life sentence in Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Todaro’s disappearance continues. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Feature Photo: Brian Giles and Jilly Todaro/Police Handout]
