Deadly orgy: Woman pleads guilty to shooting dead her husband and another couple after she caught all three of them in bed together

  • Crystal Leah Gambino, 42, pleaded guilty one count of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder
  • She was sentenced by a judge to serve 23 to 29 years in prison on the murder charges and six to eight years on the manslaughter charge
  • She shot dead her husband, Giovanni James Gambino, and two others, Geoffrey Gilliland, 39, and Stephanie Sanchez, 33, in February 2016
  • A 911 call from a family member at time of murders said that Gambino admitted to shooting the three dead and that she had 'taken care of the bodies'
  • The 911 caller, Gambino's brother-in-law, described her as 'moderately crazy' 

By Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:25 EDT, 6 March 2017 | Updated: 12:29 EDT, 7 March 2017

A North Carolina woman has pleaded guilty to murder-related charges after she killed her husband and a couple when she caught all three of them in bed together.

Crystal Gambino pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder after accepting a plea deal in the case. 

She was sentenced by a judge to serve 23 to 29 years in prison on the murder charges and six to eight years on the manslaughter charge. The sentences will be served one after the other.  

The 43-year-old woman caught her husband, Giovanni James Gambino, 40, in bed at their Alexis home with Geoffrey Gilliland, 39, and Stephanie Sanchez, 33, in February 2016. She admitted to fatally shooting all three victims. 

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North Carolina woman, Crystal Gambino (pictured in court on Monday), pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder after accepting a plea deal in the case

North Carolina woman, Crystal Gambino (pictured in court on Monday), pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder after accepting a plea deal in the case

Crystal Gambino
Giovanni James Gambino, 40

Killer and victim: Crystal Gambino (left), 43, killed her husband, Giovanni James Gambino (right), 40, after catching him in bed with another couple inside their home in 2016

Stephanie Lynn Sanchez, 33
Geoffrey Glenn Gilliland, 39

Killed: Stephanie Lynn Sanchez (left), 33, and Geoffrey Glenn Gilliland (right), 39, were identified as the two other victims. Police found them both naked 

A 911 caller claimed at the time of the incident that Gambino put the body of the female victim in a wheelbarrow and took it out to a burn pile in the backyard of the home in Alexis, a small town north west of Charlotte.

The 911 caller, who identified himself as Gambino's brother-in-law, described her as 'moderately crazy' and said she had called another relative and told them she killed her husband and two other people. 

The 911 caller told the operator: 'My sister-in-law has told her family that she killed her husband. She caught him sleeping with another woman. She told them she cleaned up the bullet casings and took care of the bodies.'

The caller added: 'She said she put the woman's body in a wheelbarrow and wheeled her out into the backyard to a burn pile.'

A 911 caller claimed at the time of the incident that Gambino (pictured with her attorney) put the body of the female victim in a wheelbarrow and took it out to a burn pile in the backyard of the home in Alexis, a small town north west of Charlotte

A 911 caller claimed at the time of the incident that Gambino (pictured with her attorney) put the body of the female victim in a wheelbarrow and took it out to a burn pile in the backyard of the home in Alexis, a small town north west of Charlotte

The 911 caller, who identified himself as Gambino's brother-in-law, described her as 'moderately crazy'. Jennifer Burke, the sister of Gilliland, showed pictures of her brother to Gambino in court Monday 

The 911 caller, who identified himself as Gambino's brother-in-law, described her as 'moderately crazy'. Jennifer Burke, the sister of Gilliland, showed pictures of her brother to Gambino in court Monday 

Stephanie Sanchez
Geoffrey Gilliland

Upon arrival at the home, police found the three bodies in the bedroom. Gilliland (right) and the other two victims were naked. Police did not clarify whether the body of Sanchez (left) was found in the yard or whether Gambino intended to take it there

Gilliland (pictured) and Sanchez did not have any known jobs and lived together in a $55-a-night Charlotte motel room, police say

Gilliland (pictured) and Sanchez did not have any known jobs and lived together in a $55-a-night Charlotte motel room, police say

The man said he was loathed to believe Gambino because 'this wouldn't be the first time she had made up stuff before'.

However he felt he needed to report the incident and asked police to check the house.

Upon arrival at the home, police found the three bodies. Local media said all three bodies were in the bedroom and were naked.

Police did not clarify whether the body of Stephanie Sanchez was found in the yard or whether Gambino intended to take it there.

At the time of the crime, Gaston County Police Capt. Curtis Rosselle told the Gaston Gazette: 'These are people that met, had interaction and then came together. And then the third party did not like it and took action.' 

Gambino and her husband had one child together, as their relationship was a tumultuous one

Gambino and her husband had one child together, as their relationship was a tumultuous one

In 2009, Gambino took out a restraining order against her husband (pictured) and filed for divorce, requesting custody and support for the couple's child. The case was later dismissed

In 2009, Gambino took out a restraining order against her husband (pictured) and filed for divorce, requesting custody and support for the couple's child. The case was later dismissed

Gambino was a singer-songwriter who likened her sound to the band 4 Non Blondes, according to music website Riverbnation . Her biography on the site stated that she had written more than 250 songs. She's pictured with her husband 

Gambino was a singer-songwriter who likened her sound to the band 4 Non Blondes, according to music website Riverbnation . Her biography on the site stated that she had written more than 250 songs. She's pictured with her husband 

Gambino was a singer-songwriter who likened her sound to the band 4 Non Blondes, according to music website Riverbnation. 

Her biography on the site stated that she had written more than 250 songs.

Gambino and her husband had one child together, as their relationship was tumultuous relationship.

In 2009, Gambino took out a restraining order against her husband and filed for divorce, requesting custody and support for the couple's child. The case was later dismissed.

She also filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and 2012. Also in 2012, Giovanni was charged with communicating threats against his wife.

The charge was later dismissed. 

Gambino, (pictured in her mug shots),  was sentenced by a judge to serve 23 to 29 years in prison on the murder charges and six to eight years on the manslaughter charge. The sentences will be served one after the other

Gambino, (pictured in her mug shots),  was sentenced by a judge to serve 23 to 29 years in prison on the murder charges and six to eight years on the manslaughter charge. The sentences will be served one after the other

Scene: The incident happened in February 2016 inside the home of Crystal and Giovanni Gambino. Above an officer investigates during the crime

Scene: The incident happened in February 2016 inside the home of Crystal and Giovanni Gambino. Above an officer investigates during the crime

One neighbor, who asked not to be named, told WBTV at the time of her murder arrest that she had a tendency to be violent.

The woman said she stopped talking to her in 2015 after Gambino pulled a gun on her during a disagreement.

'I really didn't think she was going to shoot me,' the neighbor told the TV station. 

'I just thought the best thing I needed to do was leave her alone.' 

Another neighbor, Doug Dallinger, said that the noise of gunshots woke him up when the murders happened. 

'It sounded like a sledgehammer. Just a lot of racket,' he said.

Police say they were called to couple's home in Alexis, North Carolina (pictured) after a family member was concerned for their welfare. Upon arrival officers found three bodies

Police say they were called to couple's home in Alexis, North Carolina (pictured) after a family member was concerned for their welfare. Upon arrival officers found three bodies

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