White Woman Shot in the Head, Black Druggie Suspected of Involvement

Channel 3000
March 4, 2014

Cheryl Gilberg
Cheryl Gilberg

Dane County Sheriff’s deputies looked for evidence Thursday afternoon that may have been discarded in connection to the Mazomanie homicide, officials said.

Deputies “randomly” chose to look for evidence on Highway 14 just east of Black Earth, authorities said. They did not find anything, but plan to continue the search Friday morning.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office has named a person of interest in the death of a Mazomanie woman.

Phillip A. Byrd, 39, of Janesville has been named a person of interest in the homicide investigation of Cheryl Gilberg, according to a release. Byrd is being held in the Rock County Jail on charges of bail jumping and drug possession.

According to the criminal complaint, a prescription amphetamine pill bottle prescribed to Gilberg was found alongside prescriptions belonging to Byrd during the home search.

Phillip A. Byrd
Phillip A. Byrd

Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said in a news conference Tuesday the medical examiner ruled that Gilberg died from “homicidal firearm violence to the head.”

Deputies were called to 306 Scott St. at 7:10 p.m. Sunday for a report of an injured woman.

Gilberg was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Mahoney said there was a history of domestic violence at the home, and that Gilberg filed for a restraining order last week. Court records show she filed it against a former or current live-in boyfriend, and it was scheduled to go to court Wednesday. Mahoney wouldn’t say if that man is being questioned.

Read More