DOTHAN, Ala. — The trial of Marquis McCloud, a Henry County man accused of kidnapping and murdering 19-year-old Anastasia Gilley and her unborn child, will not take place this year. The trial, initially set for early 2025, has now been postponed for the fifth time, with a new date set for 2026.
McCloud, who was arrested in early 2023, faces charges of Capital Murder-Kidnapping and Capital Murder-Two or More Persons in connection to the deaths of Gilley and her 4-month-old fetus. Since his arrest, the trial date has been rescheduled a total of 11 times, leaving the case in legal limbo for well over a year.
Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman explained that the delays are due to the complex nature of the case. Both the prosecution and defense are working through a large volume of evidence, and given that McCloud could face the death penalty if convicted, both sides are taking extensive precautions to ensure the trial is thoroughly prepared.
“We have a tremendous amount of evidence to review,” Goodman stated. “This is a very serious case, and both sides want to make sure everything is in order before we move forward.”
In addition to the evidence review, the court is also waiting on the results of a mental evaluation to determine McCloud’s fitness to stand trial. His attorneys are seeking a determination of whether he is mentally competent to proceed with the legal process.
The murder case began in May 2023 when Gilley’s badly decomposed body was found in a field in Houston County. She had been missing since early May after leaving her home in Jackson County. Investigators believe Gilley may have initially met McCloud through social media before he allegedly held her against her will and killed her in a remote area off Headland Avenue.
Sheriff Donald Valenza of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office has said that McCloud shot Gilley multiple times after taking her captive, though further details about the incident remain unclear.
As the case continues to unfold, McCloud’s trial remains set for 2026, as both sides work to prepare for what promises to be a highly complex and high-profile legal battle.
