Missing girlfriend identified as human remains found in killer’s old home shortly after conviction for murdering his wife
Authorities have identified human remains discovered in the former home of newly convicted murderer Brian Bradley Giles in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The remains were confirmed to be those of Giles' missing girlfriend, Jilly Todaro, who disappeared at age 43 in December 2020, according to The Tribune-Democrat.
Giles, 48, was found guilty on June 6 for the murder of his wife, Nancy Giles, 40, who went missing in October 2018 and was discovered in a shallow grave the following May. During Nancy's disappearance, Giles had a relationship with Todaro.
The day after Giles' conviction, authorities acted on undisclosed information and searched the home on the 500 block of Franklin Street in the Kernville neighborhood, where Giles had lived with both Nancy and later Todaro. A forensic odontologist and anthropologist identified Todaro's remains, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees told reporters. The search warrant remains sealed, according to Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer, who indicated future charges related to Todaro's death are expected.
When asked about the number of suspects, Neugebauer stated, "One," implying Giles is the primary suspect.
Giles, escorted in handcuffs after his conviction, maintained his innocence, expressing bitter resignation: "Nope, I’m innocent, but if this is what they want to do, let them do it, man," he said, according to footage from Johnstown Fox affiliate WWCP. "I’ve been railroaded before. It’s all good. There ain’t nothing I can hope for, right? Everybody got what they wanted."
Authorities discovered Todaro’s remains in Giles' former home the following day.
Before her disappearance, Todaro had been in contact with law enforcement, who had offered her help. Records show she had been assaulted multiple times by Giles, according to the Tribune-Democrat. Neugebauer noted that she had the contact information of officers and had spoken with prosecutors.
Neugebauer and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Aurandt expressed their sorrow over Todaro's fate.
"Jilly was really a nice person. She really was," Neugebauer said. "I don’t think she always liked things I had to say to her, or Jess had to say to her, but we were coming from a good place, trying to help her. She was a good person."
Aurandt reflected on the discovery: "It was like a weight that had been sitting there for three and a half years had been lifted, but then to see the remains of a person who struggled in her life to be treated with dignity, and who I know did not feel the worth that she truly had during her lifetime — to see those remains, I don’t know I can articulate how that feels."
"I just wish that Jilly could have seen, in her lifetime, the amount of people who rallied together, who made a lot of sacrifices to ensure that she was found and treated with the dignity she deserved," Aurandt added. "I wish she could have seen how many people care. I see a lot of public response to this case. I wish she knew how many people cared, and how many people care now."
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