Woman Sentenced in Poker Slaying

November 25, 2008

Jill Rockcastle, 50, has been sentenced to 10 years to life for the murder of her poker playing husband. Rockcastle stabbed her husband to death in a luxury Las Vegas condo, and confessed to the killing. During her sentencing, Rockcastle sobbed and rambled about her love for her late husband, William Gustafik. Clark County District Court Judge Michael Villani listened to her apology and then commenced with sentencing.

She pleaded no contest on September 16 for the murder of her husband, who was a Las Vegas poker pro. He went by the name “The Manipulator” while playing poker. She pleaded out because she did not want to go to trial, and said that the prosecutors had a strong case against her. Her lawyer said that she was a battered wife who could not put up with her abusive husband any longer.

Her lawyer argued that Rockcastle stabbed Gustafik 15 times after he grabbed her by the hair. However, the prosecutor said that there was no evidence that the poker player had ever been violent towards her. Police found his body in the condo and arrested Rockcastle several days later. She had overdosed in a motel room – but was unsuccessful in killing herself. She left a note to her children and confessed to the death of her husband.

Rockcastle claimed that the poker player had hired someone to kill her so that she could not get custody of their daughter. She also claimed that he took performance enhancing drugs and used cocaine. She said that they were living a life of millionaires, but it was all fake.