Thomas Gilbert Jr.’s transformation from a fresh-faced playboy to a disheveled killer

Thomas Gilbert Jr. was finally sentenced to 30 years in jail for killing his father on Friday and the toll that the three year case took on him is evident in his changing appearance.

The Princeton graduate, 34, shot his father, Thomas Gilbert Sr., on January 4, 2015 in their Upper East Side Home after arguing with him because he threatened to cut his allowance.

Gilbert Jr. had tried to plead not guilty by way of insanity amid claims that he was mentally ill but a New York judge rejected that defense.

Thomas Gilbert Jr. on Friday

Thomas Gilbert Jr. was finally sentenced to 30 years in jail for killing his father on Friday and the toll that the three year case took on him is evident in his changing appearance. The Princeton economics graduate is pictured left at a ballet gala in March 2014 and is seen right at his sentencing hearing on Friday 

The Princeton graduate, 34, shot his father, Thomas Gilbert Sr., in 2015 in their Upper East Side Home after arguing with him because he threatened to cut his allowance. He is pictured above at an arraignment hearing in January 2015

The Princeton graduate, 34, shot his father, Thomas Gilbert Sr., in 2015 in their Upper East Side Home after arguing with him because he threatened to cut his allowance. He is pictured above at an arraignment hearing in January 2015

He appeared disheveled and drawn-looking in an orange jumpsuit at his sentence hearing on Friday, almost unrecognizable to the fresh-faced, and tanned playboy he was before he was arrested and charged over the murder in January 5, 2015.   

After graduating from his father’s alma mater Princeton University in 2009 he remained unemployed and living in an apartment in Chelsea with the financial support of his parents. 

He was also a frequent fixture in the Hamptons who liked to surf, according to Hamptons.com. He had been living on $1,000-a-week and had his apartment paid for him separately.

Thomas Gilbert, Sr. founded Wainscott Capital Partners in 2011 after decades of success on Wall Street. He was shot dead by his son at his Upper East Side Residence on January 4, 2015

Thomas Gilbert, Sr. founded Wainscott Capital Partners in 2011 after decades of success on Wall Street. He was shot dead by his son at his Upper East Side Residence on January 4, 2015

Thomas Jr. had lived off his parents lavishly, traveling the world on their money. They paid for his memberships to exclusive clubs in the city and the Hamptons, paid his rent on his Chelsea apartment. He is pictured above in 2014

Thomas Jr. had lived off his parents lavishly, traveling the world on their money. They paid for his memberships to exclusive clubs in the city and the Hamptons, paid his rent on his Chelsea apartment. He is pictured above in 2014 

He was however furious when his father insisted that he get a job and start looking after himself.  

Thomas Sr. had been gradually reducing his son’s $1,000-a-week allowance, he said, and on the day he died, he told him the help was over for good. 

On Wednesday, Assistant DA Craig Ortner argued that it was pre-meditated and that he was unhappy about being cut off.

He had just reduced it from $400 to $300.  ‘The free ride was going to an end,’ Ortner said, adding: ‘It wasn’t a symptom of psychosis, it was a symptom of entitlement.’ 

Thomas Gilbert Jr. pictured after being charged with a misdemeanor charge in September 2014

Gilbert Jr. pictured in June 2019

Gilbert Jr. was furious when his father insisted that he get a job and start looking after himself

Shelley Gilbert, Thomas' mother, is pictured at court. She asked the judge to show her son leniency and said she wanted him to be jailed somewhere close to where she lives

Shelley Gilbert, Thomas’ mother, is pictured at court. She asked the judge to show her son leniency and said she wanted him to be jailed somewhere close to where she lives

Gilbert Sr. had recently set up a hedge fund but had been turned down for a $1.5million loan to finance it. 

Until then, Thomas Jr. had lived off his parents lavishly, traveling the world on their money. 

They paid for his memberships to exclusive clubs in the city and the Hamptons. They paid his rent on his Chelsea apartment, his Jeep and all of the parking tickets he incurred with it.  

The defense claimed that he was unable to keep a job because he was schizophrenic and that his parents supported him because of it. 

Thomas Gilbert Jr. appears for his trial in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Thomas Gilbert Jr. appears for his trial in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Before carrying out the killing, he researched murder online and purchased a gun

Before carrying out the killing, he researched murder online and purchased a gun

His mother, Shelley, had gone out to fetch him a Coca Cola and a sandwich before he opened fire on his father.

On Friday, Shelley addressed the court to ask the judge for leniency. 

She was ‘weepy’ as she read aloud a statement and called her son a ‘good boy’ who struggled with mental health issues. 

Before carrying out the killing, he researched murder online and purchased a gun.    

Gilbert Sr. had recently set up a hedge fund but had been turned down for a $1.5million loan to finance it. 

Thomas Gilbert, Jr. is seen at Central Booking at Manhattan Criminal Court, Jan. 5, 2015

Thomas Gilbert, Jr. is seen at Central Booking at Manhattan Criminal Court, Jan. 5, 2015

Gilbert Jr. used a 40-caliber Glock, which he had driven to Ohio to buy to commit the killing. He is pictured at Manhattan Criminal Court on January 9, 2015

Gilbert Jr. used a 40-caliber Glock, which he had driven to Ohio to buy to commit the killing. He is pictured at Manhattan Criminal Court on January 9, 2015 

Until then, Thomas Jr. had lived off his parents lavishly, traveling the world on their money. 

His mother Shelley testified for the defense and said he was mentally ill. ‘Tommy was far sicker than we ever really knew,’ she said earlier this year. It was Shelley who called 911.

In her recorded call, she told the operator when asked who had shot her husband: ‘My son. 

‘He’s nuts, but I didn’t know he was this nuts.’He shot him in the head.’ 

Gilbert Jr. used a 40-caliber Glock, which he had driven to Ohio to buy to commit the killing.  

Beforehand, he had researched websites such as ‘hireakiller.com’ and ‘hitman.com’. 

Gilbert Jr.’s old roommate testified at the trial that he had tried to kill him ‘several times’. 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk