Gladys Ricart was a woman from Ridgefield, New Jersey, who was eagerly looking forward to her wedding day with her fiancé, James Preston Jr.
Gladys was set to distribute flower bouquets while wearing her bridal gown, flanked by her bridesmaids. She was visited by a late-40s man dressed in a suit who later revealed himself to be her ex-boyfriend, Augustin Garcia, who feigned to wish her well.
Quickly dispatched emergency personnel were able to save Gladys, but it was too late.
She died from the gunshot wounds. Fortunately, witnesses immediately informed the authorities, and Garcia was arrested on the spot. In his jealousy and rage, he committed this heinous act.
Garcia stood trial and claimed temporary insanity due to the shock of seeing Gladys getting married.
The loss of Gladys Ricart and the brutal circumstances surrounding her death deeply affected her loved ones and the community. Her story was featured in the Investigation Discovery show “Primal Instinct: Red Wedding,” which detailed the tragic events of that day and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring her murderer to justice.
It is a solemn reminder of the terrible effects of violence and the necessity of holding criminals accountable for their deeds.
On September 26, 1999, Gladys Ricart, a woman from Ridgefield, New Jersey, was getting ready to marry her beloved, James Preston Jr.
Unexpectedly, a late-forties man in a suit showed up at her house and claimed to be wishing her a happy birthday.
Trusting the stranger, her family let him in. But to their horror, the man had sinister intentions.
Gladys’ dream wedding turned into a nightmare, as her life was tragically taken away by this unknown man.
The investigation into her murder swiftly led to the capture of the perpetrator, Augustin Garcia, who was apprehended by the authorities shortly after the crime.
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Gladys Ricart wiki and biography
Name | Gladys Ricart |
nickname | Gladys |
Sex | female |
Date Of Birth | 20 July 1990 |
Age | 33 |
Profession / Occupation | NAN |
Mother Tongue | Eng |
Religion | Christian |
Nation | US |
Caste/ Ethnicity | NAN |
Zodiac Sign | NAN |
Height | 5 feet 6 inches |
Family and Relationship
Father | NAN |
Mother | NAN |
Brothers | NAN |
Sisters | NAN |
Marital Status | NAN |
Husband | NAN |
Daughters | NAN |
Sons | NAN |
Boyfriends/ Affairs | NAN |
Height, Weight, and Body Measurements
Height in Centimetres | 168 cm |
Height in Meters | NAN |
Height in Feet Inches | NAN |
Weight | 60KG |
Body Measurement | NAN |
Eye Colour | Black |
Hair Colour | Black |
Favorites
Favorite Colour | Red |
Favorite Actor | Tom |
Favorite Actress | NAN |
Favorite Food | Pizza |
Hobbies | Reading |
Favorite Director | Nolan |
Favorite Destination | NAN |
Residence and Contact Address
Birth Place | US |
Home Town | US |
Present Residence | NAN |
House Address | NAN |
Phone No / Mobile No | NAN |
Email ID | NAN |
Website | NAN |
Social Media
NAN | |
NAN | |
NAN | |
Wikipedia | NAN |
YouTube | NAN |
She was laid out in her wedding gown and veil at the Ortiz Funeral Home in upper Manhattan, where tearful mourners paid their respects. The wake was attended by both grieving loved ones and police officers investigating the terrible homicide. Her fiancé, James Preston Jr., was also present, visibly devastated by the loss.
Ridgefield police Captain Vincent Zacco expressed the heartbreak of witnessing a person at the happiest moment of their life, only for it to be taken away in an instant, turning joy into tragedy. Despite the heartache, Gladys’ family insisted that she be laid to rest in her wedding attire, turning the funeral into a representation of the wedding she had dreamed of.
The funeral home spokesperson, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that the family wanted the world to witness this human tragedy. Friends of Gladys’ ex-boyfriend, Agustin Garcia, a Dominican businessman and activist charged with the shooting, also attended the wake, grappling with the tragedy that unfolded.
Gladys’ fiancé, James Preston Jr., remained
Silent in the face of reporters, visibly pale and in shock from losing the woman he was ready to marry. Family members spoke about how important the wedding and her dress were to Gladys. Her aunt, Yvonne Flores, recalled her happiness on the wedding day, as she was eager to start a family and have more children.
Tragically, the shooting deeply affected the young members of the wedding party, including Gladys’ 16-year-old cousin, who witnessed the horrifying event. Witnesses claim that Gladys was giving her bridesmaids bouquets and kisses when Garcia barged in and started shooting. Authorities have a home video from the shooting that was used to document the gruesome sight.
Gladys’ cousin, Elva Ricart, asserted that Garcia had been stalking her and deliberately pushed his way into the house. Elva expressed a desire for justice and suggested the death penalty as a suitable punishment.
The tragedy has left a lasting impact on everyone involved, with Ridgefield cop Jose Brito admitting that he will always be haunted by the memory of a woman he never even knew. Gladys Ricart’s body will be flown to her native Dominican Republic for burial, where her friends and family there will continue to mourn the loss of a beautiful life taken too soon.
His attorney, Fernando Oliver, stated that Garcia doesn’t remember the gun going off. Oliver may use self-defense and insanity as potential defenses in the case.
During a court hearing, the prosecutor, James Santulli, described Garcia as a desperate man and mentioned that they might seek the death penalty for his actions. Garcia is currently held on $5 million bail.
Gladys Ricart, a 39-year-old accountant from New York City, was about to marry James Preston Jr., 36, when the tragic incident occurred. She was dressed in her wedding gown, looking radiant, and had just taken photographs with her bridesmaids when Garcia entered her home uninvited. He claimed to have been invited and was dressed in a suit and briefcase.
Garcia continued to fire three more bullets after being tackled to the ground by her brother; one of those shots struck Gladys. Unaware of the catastrophe, her fiance was waiting for her at a church in Flushing, New York.
Neighbors and authorities reported that Garcia had a history of abuse and violence and had been stalking Gladys since their breakup about nine months ago. Garcia and Gladys had spent the previous weekend together.
Friends and neighbors expressed their sorrow and anger over the senseless act, describing Garcia as someone disliked and hated by many. They stated that Gladys had finally found happiness with her fiancé and that Garcia couldn’t bear to let her go. They condemned Garcia for taking the life of such a beautiful person and wished for justice to be served.