The Evolving Case of Murderer Brian Giles

A Forensic Psychologist's Perspective

I imagine that on Thursday, June 6, 2024, forty-eight-year-old Brian Giles thought his life could not get any worse. After all, he had just been convicted of his wife's murder. However, if there's ever been a clearer example of how things can always get worse, it might be what happened the next day, June 7, when human remains were found in his former home's basement. Brian Giles has now gone from a convicted murderer to a potential serial killer.  

Brian Giles

Overview of the Case

In October 2018, forty-year-old Nancy Giles vanished from the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, home she shared with her husband, Brian. Her remains were found buried in a shallow grave near the Inclined Plane hiking trail seven months later. She had suffered brutal blunt-force trauma to her skull. Brian Giles quickly became the prime suspect, and the evidence against him began to mount. In June 2024, after a lengthy investigation and trial, a jury found Giles guilty of first-degree murder.

Nancy Giles, discovered 2019

Several critical pieces of evidence led to Brian Giles' conviction. One of the most striking aspects of the case against Brian Giles was the sheer number of lies and inconsistent stories he told about what happened to his wife. In November 2018, he claimed to police that Nancy wasn't missing but rather "in hiding" due to an alleged rape by someone she was staying with. He later changed this story, saying he had seen her multiple times after disappearing. In a January 2019 interview, Giles accused one of the individuals Nancy was reportedly staying with of being a suspect in her disappearance despite no evidence to support this claim. He also made contradictory statements about when he last saw Nancy, first saying it was October 3, 2018, then changing it to October 10.

Perhaps the most damning evidence against Brian Giles was a letter he allegedly wrote to investigators after his 2022 arrest. In it, he admitted that he and another person buried Nancy in a shallow grave after she died after suffering a seizure. However, forensic analysis of Nancy's remains told a different story. She had suffered extensive skull fractures from blunt force trauma, far more damage than a fall or seizure would cause. Prosecutors said that, before he was finally convicted, he told at least eighteen different stories about what happened to Nancy, all to mislead investigators.

But it wasn't just Brian's shifting narratives that caused him trouble. It was his behavior before and after Nancy died. His criminal history dating back to 1996 did little to win favor among investigators, especially since several of his charges (terrorist threats, disorderly conduct, engaging in fighting, harassment, criminal mischief, burglary) suggested a diverse and often violent disregard for the rules of law.

During the trial, witnesses described Giles' relationship with Nancy as controlling and abusive. Nancy's mother testified that he would often prevent Nancy from calling her or seeing her. Friends and family stated that Giles would not allow Nancy to talk to other men, take her medication, or wear her glasses. Others close to Brian and Nancy's relationship testified that Brian was "verbally abusive" and that he had reportedly "kicked her out of their home" around the time of her disappearance in October 2018. Witnesses also said that Giles did not allow Nancy to talk to other men, take her medication, have a cell phone, or wear her glasses. This pattern of coercive control is a hallmark of domestic abuse.

Giles' behavior after Nancy's disappearance was also suspicious. He deleted their joint Facebook account and posted that he was "getting a divorce from his cheating wife," painting himself as the victim. A worker from a mental health clinic in Johnstown, where Brian and Nancy would frequent, called the police and reported Brian had left a post-it note that Nancy was at his house and safe. He also instructed them not to go looking for her anymore. He was also seen taking down missing person posters of Nancy, which prosecutors argued was an attempt to hinder efforts to find her.

The Disappearance of Jilly Todaro

Tragically, Nancy Giles may not have been Brian Giles' only victim. On December 12, 2020, Giles' girlfriend, Jilly Todaro, who was living with him in the same Franklin Street home, vanished. The 43-year-old woman was last seen on December 11, using her Electronic Benefit Transfer card at a local Sheetz gas station. Her phone has been turned off or has run out of battery since that day.

Jilly Todero, missing December 2020

Disturbingly, Giles was charged with assaulting Todaro just one day before she went missing. The timing raises the chilling possibility that he may have escalated his violence to murder once again. She has remained missing despite extensive searches and interviews at Todaro's known hangouts, like the Women's Help Center and St. Vincent de Paul Family Kitchen.

Yesterday, June 7, 2024, that may have changed. While Brian Giles was still wrapping his head around his newly convicted murder status (he is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13), human remains were discovered in the basement of his former residence on Franklin Street, just one day after his conviction for Nancy's murder. Cadaver dogs alerted to the remains, which were buried two to three feet beneath the dirt basement floor.

While the identity of these remains is not yet confirmed, the discovery raises alarming questions about the extent of Giles' crimes. Could Jilly Todaro have met a similar fate to Nancy Giles? Investigators are working diligently to answer this question.

How Do We Know Which Abusers Will Kill?

It pains me to say this, but there is no way to guarantee an abused woman's safety. Nor is there a way to peer into a psychological crystal ball and pinpoint with 100% accuracy which batterers will carry their violence to the ultimate, lethal conclusion.

But there are ways to assess the odds. One of these is through a lethality risk assessment, a process during which a forensic psychologist examines Giles through the lens of what we know about other lethal domestic batterers as well as Giles' history and behavior. Such an assessment would aim to determine the level of risk Brian posed and make recommendations for management strategies to reduce that risk and protect Nancy, including recommendations for close monitoring, mandated treatment, restraining orders, or even arrest if the risk was deemed imminent.

As you might imagine, few domestic violence perpetrators volunteer to have their potential for homicidal violence assessed. Brian Giles could have been court-ordered to undergo a lethality risk assessment under several conditions, for instance, as part of a pretrial process or sentencing to inform decisions about bail, conditions of release, or length of sentence following an arrest/conviction for domestic violence or another violent crime or as part of court-mandated domestic violent treatment program.

These are some of the factors that a forensic psychologist would consider in assessing Giles' risk:  

1. History of Domestic Violence: The reports about Brian's controlling, verbally abusive, and degrading behavior towards Nancy are significant red flags. A documented pattern of domestic abuse is one of the strongest predictors of future violence and homicide risk.

2. Severity and Escalation of Abuse: I would want to know more details about the nature and frequency of Brian's abusive behavior over time. Was the abuse escalating in severity or becoming more frequent leading up to the murder? Escalation is a crucial warning sign for lethal violence. Did the abuse involve strangulation, one of the most significant signs of potential lethality?

3. Threats or Fantasies of Violence: Did Brian ever express homicidal thoughts, threats, or fantasies about harming Nancy or others? Even indirectly, communicating an intent to harm is a critical risk factor.

4. Access to Weapons: Did Brian have access to weapons, particularly guns? Access to lethal means increases the risk of a fatal outcome in domestic violence situations.

5. Substance Abuse or Mental Health Issues: Substance abuse and certain mental health conditions, such as depression or personality disorders, can increase the risk of violence. I would assess Brian for any signs of these issues.

6. Jealousy and Possessiveness: Extreme jealousy, possessiveness, and a fear of abandonment are common psychological factors in intimate partner homicides. Brian's attempts to isolate Nancy and control her interactions with others suggest this dynamic.

7. Lack of Empathy or Remorse: If Brian exhibited a general lack of empathy, remorse, or concern for Nancy's well-being, this would be a concerning indicator of his capacity for lethal violence.

8. Violations of Court Orders or Restraints: Had Nancy ever sought a restraining order or pressed charges against Brian? Violations of court orders designed to protect the victim are a serious risk factor.

9. Stressors and Life Changes: Major life stressors or changes, such as separation, divorce proceedings, financial problems, or job loss, can escalate the risk of violence in an abusive relationship. I would assess any such stressors in Brian's life. (It's important to note that in many cases of intimate partner homicide, there may not be a clear, singular motive or precipitating event. The murder is often the culmination of a long pattern of abuse, control, and violence. Abusers may kill their partners for a variety of reasons, including fear of abandonment, a desire for ultimate power, or rage during an abusive episode).

10. Victim's Perception of Risk: Research shows that victims of domestic violence often have a good sense of their own risk. If Nancy had expressed fear for her life or a belief that Brian would kill her, this would carry significant weight in the assessment.

Of course, a complete risk assessment would involve a more detailed look at Brian's background, including his childhood, any past criminal history, his mental health history, and a direct psychological evaluation. Collateral interviews with family, friends, and co-workers also provide valuable context.

The Bottom Line

As a forensic psychologist, my role is to help explain the inexplicable. While we may never fully comprehend what drives a Brian Giles to kill, we must remain vigilant to the warning signs. The unraveling of a murderer often begins not with a bang but with insidious whispers of control and cruelty.

We hope to prevent the next tragedy by dragging these dark deeds into the light. For now, the families of Nancy Giles and Jilly Todaro are left to grapple with unimaginable loss. And a basement on Franklin Street serves as a grim reminder of the evil that men do.

As always, thank you for reading this issue of The Mind Detective. Please pass it along to your true-crime-reading friends and forensic psychology aficionados. If there’s a case you’d like me to cover, please reach out!