Winters Shooting Victim Reportedly Bailed Suspect Out of Jail Three Days Prior to Her Death

As the nationwide man-hunt for suspected murder of Leslie Pinkston continues, new reports say the victim bailed William Gardner out of jail only days before.

CBS News reports, the DA’s office says it was Leslie Pinkston herself who paid the $130 that ultimately set Gardner free on bail for charges of stalking and threatening her. The sheriff’s department says it is her signature on the receipt.

Just days later, Gardner allegedly shot Pinkston multiple times in the head through her car window, outside her office in downtown Winters on Nov. 19.

While local law enforcement agencies have continued their search for Sacramento resident William Gardner, the U.S. Marshall Service has placed $2000 reward bounty for his arrest.

He is still at large and officials are considering him armed and dangerous. 

Gardner had been released from the Yolo County Jail just three days earlier, and was due to stand trial next month on charges that he stalked and threatened his alleged victim, Leslie Pinkston.

According to the Enterprise, the suspect was able to repeatedly post bail despite his history of failing to appear in court and probation violations on domestic-violence case in two counties; while also noting that court records show Pinkston and her mother had obtained a restraining order against Gardner following a stalking incident outside their Winters home, where Gardner allegedly threw a lawn chair through the house’s front window, cracked the front door and threatened the women both verbally and by text.

Winters Police Department report that he was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and tan pants fleeing in a tan older model van, and are asking the public to immediately report any information on William Gardner’s whereabouts to their local law enforcement agency. 

He is known to reside in the Sacramento area. Anyone who may have witnessed or has information about the shooting is urged to contact the Winters Police Department at (530) 795-4561.   

SUSPECT: William Carl Gardner III, age 30. He is described as a black male, 5-10, 186 lbs, last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, tan pants with side pockets.