Mike Gillich Jr., a Biloxi man known for his role in the 1987 murders of Judge Vincent Sherry and wife Margaret Sherry, died Saturday April 28 of cancer. Gillich was a pivotal figure in the murders of the Judge and his wife, and later assisted prosecutors in securing the conviction of former Biloxi Mayor Pete Halat.
A significant part of my law partner’s (and dad’s) career was spent investigating and trying the cases known to me as the Sherry Murder Trials. I was a child during the two trials, but I can still remember my father spending a lot of time and effort dedicated to prosecuting those cases. Mike Gillich was an important figure in bringing the investigations and trials to an end, eventually helping to convicted those responsible for the murders.
The stories my dad tells about the investigation and trials are legendary and have always fascinated me. Even today, as Peter and I practice criminal defense law together, I still have older lawyers who know my dad tell me about what they remember about the case or about my dad’s role in the trials. If you want to learn more about the case then I suggest reading the books “Dream Room: Tales of the Dixie Mafia” or “Mississippi Mud”.
Bill Barrett