Sikeston woman pleads guilty to 2008 Cape Girardeau murder

A Cape Girardeau murder case that drew national attention came to a close Monday morning when Tambra Gilmore, formerly known as Tambra Turner, pleaded guilty to the February 2008 murder of Chabreshea Egson.

Gilmore -- whose name was corrected for the record by her attorney, Jennifer Booth, at the beginning of the hearing -- pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree burglary for shooting Egson, precluding the need for a jury trial that was scheduled for November. Prosecutors believe Gilmore shot Egson after finding out that Egson was having a relationship with Gilmore's estranged husband, Lloyd Gilmore. The prosecution also alleged that Tambra Gilmore had gone to the home at 1523 N. Spanish St., where Egson was staying and broke a window with a tree branch. Egson was shot to death in the home hours later.

With her plea, Tambra Gilmore agreed that she went to the home with the intention of committing an assault, and that in the course of the burglary, Egson lost her life. With the plea, the Sikeston, Mo., native, didn't directly admit to shooting Egson.

Tambra Gilmore -- who was originally charged with first-degree murder, burglary, property damage and armed criminal action -- was sentenced to 10 years on each count, to run concurrently, by Judge William Syler. Missouri law requires that she serve at least 85 percent of the sentence on the murder charge.

"This is the lowest sentence I've ever agreed to in a murder case," said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. "But 10 years is better than zero."

The case gained national exposure after Tambra Gilmore, then known as Turner, was on the run for over a year and the case was featured on the TV show "America's Most Wanted." She was finally arrested in Chicago in June 2009.

Swingle said because the prosecution's main witness, Lloyd Gilmore, had refused to testify at his wife's trial by invoking spousal privilege, there was a strong chance the case against Tambra Gilmore wouldn't have ended in a jury's conviction on first-degree murder charges.

Another witness, a cousin of Lloyd Gilmore who told police Tambra had said she gained access to the house where Egson was staying the night of the murder and fired shots, had recanted the statements he made in a police interview.

Swingle said that by making the deal he was able to get a conviction, instead of taking a gamble on getting a jury to find Tambra Gilmore guilty beyond a reasonable doubt with shaky evidence.

"The good news for the community is she's going to be in prison tonight and won't be out for maybe 10 years," Swingle said.

Egson's family members -- several of whom showed up to the hearing wearing yellow T-shirts with Egson's photo and the phrase "Rest in peace Bresha" -- weren't happy with the deal.

Edna Kuykendoll, Egson's maternal grandmother, spoke before the sentencing part of the hearing.

"I don't think justice was properly served, because she's a prior offender. ... And we didn't get a chance to discuss [the plea deal]."

Kuykendoll said the family found out about the deal Friday, which was when Swingle said he reached the agreement with Tambra Gilmore's defense.

"A 10-year sentence is not enough, sir," Kuykendoll said to Syler before returning to her seat.

msanders@semissourian.com

388-3652

Pertinent address:

1523 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO