Boyfriend speaks out in missing woman case

The boyfriend of Christie Wilson spoke out Wednesday for the first time since his girlfriend of more than a year disappeared over a month ago.Daniel Burlando, 30, of Sacramento, has kept a low profile since Wilson's Oct. 5 disappearance and has not participated in any of the numerous searches for Wilson."This is a really hard subject for me," he said. "I'm torn. I want to be there to help and there's nothing really I can do. I feel helpless in the situation."Wilson was seen leaving the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln with Mario Flavio Garcia, 53, of Auburn, at 1:13 a.m. Oct. 5. Garcia is charged with her murder, although no body has been found.Just days before Wilson disappeared, she and Burlando enjoyed a weekend getaway at South Lake Tahoe celebrating their one-year anniversary. Sadly, it was to be their last."I believe she was killed," Burlando said.Garcia's attorneys, Ron Peters and David Dratman, have said that their client isn't the person who killed Wilson, but instead say investigators should focus their attention on Burlando. Prosecutors disagree."Mr. Burlando has been very cooperative and is not a suspect," Garen Horst, deputy district attorney for Placer County, said Wednesday.Investigators have spoken to Burlando numerous times and have ruled him out as a suspect. The night of Wilson's disappearance Burlando said he was having dinner with his father, who had returned from being out of the country for a month. Officials have said that receipts and witnesses have confirmed Burlando's whereabouts the night of Wilson's disappearance.Some have questioned whether Wilson and Garcia had a relationship. Officials said there is no indication that Wilson and Garcia knew each other prior to the night of Oct. 5."A man and woman walking together - some have speculated, 'what was she doing with him?'" Burlando said. "I know her very well. There was nothing romantic between them."Burlando said it has been established that Wilson borrowed money from Garcia and they may have developed a friendship while playing cards at the casino. Officials declined to discuss whether Garcia gave Wilson any money.It isn't like Wilson to borrow money from someone she doesn't know, officials said."She's been to the casino before, but I'm not sure if she usually goes alone," said Lt. George Malim, spokesman for the Placer County Sheriff's Department.Attorneys for the defense have said Wilson and Burlando have a history of domestic violence and both were arrested March 24 for domestic violence and that Burlando reportedly had recent bruises on him when interviewed by police.Burlando contends this is not the case.For more than a month law enforcement and volunteers have searched hundreds of miles of grasslands, lakes, rivers, culverts and mountainous terrain to no avail.Searchers did find a plastic bag containing human hair, tape, rope and a "bondage ball" that has been sent to the Department of Justice crime lab in Sacramento for fingerprint and DNA testing. Results are expected to be returned in the next few weeks. At this point there is no indication that the "bondage kit" found at the Spenceville Wildlife Area is related to Wilson's disappearance.DNA results confirm that at least one of two hairs taken from Garcia's white Toyota Camry belonged to Wilson. Additionally, Garcia reportedly went to a UC Davis Medical building on Bell Road for medical treatment the day after Wilson's disappearance. He was reportedly treated for scratches and claw marks on his arms, as well as a black eye, officials said.Garcia remains in Placer County Jail on $3 million bail. He is scheduled to return to Placer County Superior Court at 1 p.m. in Dept. 3, Nov. 28 for further proceedings.The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.