Overview
- A Madison County judge reaffirmed that capital punishment remains an option if Gilday is convicted in the 2022 killing of Jordan Morgan.
- Court records show the defense bid to remove the death penalty was denied in an Oct. 16 ruling.
- The ruling turned on the finding that Gilday lacked a documented history of serious mental illness at the time of the offense.
- A tentative trial date is set for May 1, 2026, with a roughly 20‑day proceeding expected and a status hearing scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026.
- Defense counsel said they intend to seek a change of venue, and reporting states Gilday confessed to killing Morgan during the February 2022 home invasion.