In April 1980, two men broke into the home of Frederick Wilkerson on the Upper West Side and strangled him to death. The murder sent shock waves through the community of local artists, as Wilkerson was celebrated as a gifted coach and teacher who nurtured some of the greatest voices in music history.
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There has never been an arrest in Wilkerson’s death, which occurred 44 years ago in an old apartment building on 95th Street near Broadway. Now, a close friend of his is collaborating with the New York Police Department to revive the long-unsolved case.
“The minute I opened the door it was like walking into a meat locker, the temperature had chilled,” said Gueies-Bonilla in an interview with amNewYork Metro. “He had a bruise above his right eye, a bruise about the length of my index finger. His lips were purple. And I took his pulse; he was cold.” Gueies-Bonilla had been out at a rehearsal before coming back to find his friend.
According to Gueies-Bonilla, who said he had been staying at Wilkerson’s residence at the time, two men came knocking the previous night and were let inside the building by another houseguest. This was not unusual, as Wilkerson was known to entertain many visitors. His friends affectionately called him “Wilkie,” but the men who entered Wilkerson’s home that evening had different intentions.
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Gueies-Bonilla has not forgotten about his mentor Wilkerson, or the horror of that day when he found his body. “He made my voice. He created my voice,” said Gueies-Bonilla in an interview with NBC New York. Wilkerson’s student roster included vocal greats such as Roberta Flack, Maya Angelou, Earle Hyman, William Parker, and others, as documented in The New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts.
Recently, Gueies-Bonilla connected with Detective Robert Deckert of the Cold Case Homicide Squad, who decided to revisit the case. He said Deckert delved into old records and evidence that the NYPD thought might have been destroyed by storms or flooding over the years but were found intact. “I just remember swooning,” recalled Guies-Bonilla. “He interviewed me on a second occasion as to the contents of it. And by the end of it, we were on the phone for like, an hour and 45 minutes.”
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Detective Deckert found two artist renderings from the 1980s depicting the suspected killers. “The sketch[es] were actually done around the time of the incident,” said Deckert. “We’re just hoping someone was around at the time and recognizes them from the neighborhood. They might still be there. Someone might say, oh, I’ve known that person for my entire life.”
Although 44 years have passed, Detective Deckert believes that Wilkerson and his loved ones deserve justice and a resolution for the brutal killing. “You always want someone to pay for things they’ve done in the past and have justice for the family, the victim themselves,” Deckert said. “We don’t forget about the victims.”
Police are asking the public for any information regarding Wilkerson’s murder. Gueies-Bonilla says it would be the greatest day of his life if the case is solved. He also has a message for the perpetrators, if they are reading this:
“Shame on you. If you did this for money then you will pay dearly, in the pits of hell, and if you did it for any other reason, then a bigger shame on you, because you’re still alive and he’s dead.”
Anyone with information regarding Wilkerson or his death is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (For Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). Tips can be submitted online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are confidential.
Fingers crossed and prayers offered that this murder will be solved. (Maybe there is some DNA evidence?) Wilkerson and his family deserve resolution. Very sad.