BOSTON — Investigators are revealing cryptic statements allegedly made by the man who’s charged with murdering the mother of his three children inside a luxury apartment building in Boston’s South End.
Eric McPhail, 37, pleaded not guilty in Boston Municipal Court to first-degree murder in the killing of Shantel Gillespie, 30.
Police found Shantel Gillespie’s body in apartment 506 at the Harris South End during a well-being check on December 12th.
Prosecutors said she suffered mechanical asphyxiation and blunt force injuries to her head.
Authorities suspect the brutal attack happened while the couple’s three kids, ages 1, 3, and 6, were inside the apartment.
“Today is the first step in the right direction for justice,” said sister Shanalee Gillespie.
According to a police report, surveillance video shows McPhail spent the night of December 11th in the apartment with Gillespie and the three kids.
He was reportedly seen leaving the apartment building at 12:01 a.m. on December 12th & returned around 12:08 a.m.
McPhail reportedly left again around 8:02 a.m. to drop the kids off at school and returned for about an hour and a half before departing for the last time.
The police report describes him dropping off the three children at a home in Dorchester later in the evening.
He reportedly told a witness that he was “going away for a long time.”
“This is probably the last time you are going to hear from me,” he reportedly told another witness.
McPhail allegedly abandoned Gillespie’s vehicle and debit card in a garage on Francis Street.
“She was a daughter. She was a sister. She was a friend, and most importantly, she was a mother,” said sister Shanakay Gillespie.
Family members said Gillespie was murdered just two days after finishing coursework for her nursing degree at Labouré College of Healthcare in Milton.
Gillespie also worked as a clinical assistant at Children’s Hospital.
Prosecutors said McPhail had a history of abusive behavior toward Gillespie, leading to prior domestic violence-related criminal charges and two restraining orders.
Court documents indicate McPhail had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest on a charge of assault and battery on a household member, identified as Gillespie, since July of 2022.
He was arrested on that warrant after Gillespie was murdered.
McPhail pleaded not guilty and is due back in court in March for a probable cause hearing.
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