Gabriel Calixto

Status:

Solved

Jurisdiction:

Springfield Police Department (IL)

Missing From:

Springfield, Illinois

Reward:

up to $2,500

via Sangamon & Menard Crime Stoppers

Not from STC, Conditions and restrictions apply

Case Disposition:

On August 28, 2025, it was announced that Gabriel Calixto was arrested in Mexico. https://www.wandtv.com/news/illinois/gabriel-calixto-arrested-in-mexico-for-murder-of-emma-shafer/article_8e939946-9b12-424f-82d2-fbd514486c57.html

Summary:

Gabriel Calixto is wanted for the homicide of his ex-girlfriend, 24-year old Emma Shafer.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

Authorities allege that Gabriel stabbed Emma to death at a residence. Emma was an activist and community organizer whose occupations included a shelter worker, intern for a US congresswoman, committee clerk and community development intern. It should be noted that Gabriel pleaded guilty in 2018 for kidnapping another ex-girlfriend in another county. He was sentenced to six years incarceration but that conviction would later be vacated. He pled guilty to a lesser charge and was released based on time already served in custody. There was never an explanation as to why his kidnapping conviction was vacated, except that it was for “constitutional reasons”. As of this posting, Gabriel’s first degree murder case in Sangamon County’s court records database is in open status with no filings since 2023. This confirms that Gabriel is still at large. Gabriel has ties to Bethalto, Illinois along with St. Louis, Missouri and Toluca, Mexico.

Additional Details:

Anyone with information on Gabriel’s whereabouts should contact Sangamon/Menard Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427 or 1-800-397-2288. Gabriel should be considered extremely dangerous. Please consider sharing this case so that Emma’s family can get justice and answers.

Case Last Updated:

Aug 29, 2025