Grisly details emerge over fate of California Army vet who confronted tenant that kept covering security cameras

The remains of a beloved California Army veteran were callously tossed off a pier and left in a park by her murderous tenant, newly released court documents charge.

Police say Brenda Gillett, 56, of San Deigo, was killed and dismembered by her dementated Chula Vista tenant, Robert Watkins, who later confessed to the sickening crime that occurred May 31.

The drama unfolded around 2 a.m. the day Gillett was killed when she called the police from the home she rented to Watkins to report ongoing problems with the tenant, according to court documents.  

Gillet told officers that Watkins had been covering security cameras installed at the home, which worried her, and also hosted too many guests there, in violation of house rules. Police told Gillet that they could not help with the eviction process.

At around 3 a.m., Gillett was seen on Ring cameras going to the back of the house, where she also served as property manager, according to court documents. It was the last time she was seen alive.

Gillett’s sister called police to report her missing sister the following afternoon.

That day, officers responded to Gillet’s rental home on Via Curvada to perform a welfare check. There they found Gillett’s car, but were unable to locate Gillet herself.

With mounting concern, officers searched the residence, finding blood-soaked pieces of evidence from both the inside and the outside the house. Officers also who interviewed Watkins discovered scratch marks on his body and blood on his shoes.

Police arrested Watkins, who confessed to the crime upon interrogation, prosecutors said.

The demented tenant beat Gillet with a hammer, killing her, and dismembered her body, according to court documents.

Watkins heartlessly refused to reveal the location of Gillet’s remains unless he was offered a plea deal, according to prosecutors.

Some of Gillett’s remains were found stuffed in a suitcase that Watkins dumped dumped at Paseo del Rey Park near the rental property, according to police. Other remains were discovered in the Pacific Ocean near the USS Midway Museum in San Deigo harbor.

Security cameras from a pier near the decommissioned aircraft carrier captured Watkins throwing bags off the pier, court papers said.

Watkins is being held on a murder charge in San Diego County Jail. His arraignment was scheduled for Monday afternoon.