The Chula Vista home at the center of one of San Diego County's most disturbing murder cases is now being marketed for sale by the wife of Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, an unusual intersection of private real estate business and public office that comes as the victim's family continues demanding justice. The mayor himself participated in a memorial honoring the slain woman on Saturday, October 24, just two days before another court hearing in the homicide case.
The four-bedroom property at 653 Via Curvada, where 56-year-old Army veteran Brenda Gillett was allegedly murdered and dismembered by a longtime tenant in May, is listed through Coronado Shores Company, the real estate brokerage headed by the mayor's wife, Myllissa "Myssie" McCann.
Publicly available real estate records identify Myllissa McCann as the listing agent for the approximately 1,838-square-foot residence, which was built in 1977 and sits on a roughly 9,094-square-foot lot. Originally offered for $799,000, the property subsequently received a $30,000 price reduction to $769,000, with the listing acknowledging that the house requires a complete remodel.
The listing also contains the notation "BOM - no fault of seller," a common real estate abbreviation indicating that a property has returned to the market through no fault of the seller. The available records do not explain the circumstances of the previous transaction or whether the home's connection to the homicide affected the marketing process.
The property is the same residence where prosecutors allege Robert Lee Watkins, a 41-year-old tenant, killed Gillett during a dispute involving the rental arrangement. The case drew widespread attention after investigators discovered that the victim's remains had been transported to multiple locations, including a neighborhood park and the waterfront near the USS Midway Museum.
Gillett was not the property's owner but helped her elderly mother manage the residence, where Watkins had reportedly lived for approximately 11 years. Family members previously told local media that Gillett had gone to the house to address escalating problems involving the tenant, including disputes over visitors and security cameras.
According to court documents described by NBC 7 and ABC 10News, Gillett contacted Chula Vista police during the early morning hours of May 24, reporting concerns about Watkins and his conduct at the property. Officers responded but reportedly explained that they could not intervene in an eviction matter or compel entry into the residence when no one answered the door.
Surveillance footage subsequently showed Gillett entering the rear portion of the residence around 3am. She was not seen leaving, and her sister, Wendy Bonifacio, reported her missing after becoming concerned about her whereabouts.
Police returned to the property for a welfare check later that day and discovered evidence suggesting a violent confrontation had occurred. Investigators subsequently located bloodstained items and other evidence, while prosecutors alleged that Watkins had injuries and blood on his shoes when officers encountered him.
Authorities said Watkins admitted killing Gillett, although he allegedly refused to disclose the location of her remains without receiving a deal. Prosecutors later described evidence that he struck Gillett with a hammer and hatchet before dismembering her body and attempting to dispose of the remains.
Investigators recovered portions of Gillett's remains inside a suitcase discovered at Paseo del Rey Park, less than a mile from the residence, and near the USS Midway along San Diego's waterfront. Prosecutors also described surveillance footage showing Watkins discarding items near the harbor.
Watkins subsequently pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and remains accused in the case. His alleged statements to investigators and the details presented by prosecutors are allegations that have not been established through a criminal conviction.
The property's appearance on the real estate market introduces another dimension to a case that has deeply affected Gillett's family and the surrounding community. The listing acknowledges that the residence requires extensive renovation, although it does not publicly detail the condition of the interior or specify what repairs may be connected to the criminal investigation.
Under California law, sellers and real estate agents generally must disclose certain deaths occurring on a property within the preceding three years when applicable disclosure requirements are met. The circumstances of Gillett's death would therefore be material information for prospective purchasers to evaluate, although SanDiegoVille has not reviewed the property's seller disclosure documents or determined precisely what information has been provided to potential buyers.
The identity of the listing agent is particularly noteworthy because of her relationship to Chula Vista's mayor and the couple's previously reported business interests.
Myllissa McCann is president of Coronado Shores Company, a real estate sales and property management business that she and John McCann acquired in 2017, according to the company's own published history. The firm has operated in the Coronado real estate market and has been associated with both residential property management and sales.
In May 2025, Voice of San Diego reported that the mayor's real estate company had filed documents to operate under names associated with Amara Bay, a major luxury condominium development planned along Chula Vista's waterfront. The reporting raised questions about the relationship between the mayor's public responsibilities promoting the city's bayfront redevelopment and his family's private real estate interests.
At the time, Mayor McCann told Voice of San Diego that he did not oversee the company's daily operations and had divested his ownership interest. The publication also reported that the mayor's financial disclosures had identified the company as worth more than $1 million and providing him with more than $100,000 in annual income. McCann did not immediately clarify when he had divested his ownership interest.
The Via Curvada listing does not, by itself, establish any conflict of interest or improper conduct by the mayor or his wife. There is no evidence that either McCann had any connection to the homicide, and the available property records identify Myllissa McCann as the listing agent rather than the property's owner.
Nevertheless, the mayor's connection to the case took on additional public significance on Saturday, October 24, when he joined Gillett's family, friends and community members at Veterans Park in Chula Vista for a vigil and celebration of life honoring the slain Army veteran. The gathering came five months after her death and just days before what would have been her 57th birthday, even as the home where she was allegedly murdered remains listed for sale through his wife's real estate brokerage.
According to NBC 7 San Diego, McCann was among several speakers who addressed the gathering, which also included Maricris Drouaillet, the sister of missing Chula Vista mother Maya Millete. Drouaillet spoke about the shared anguish of losing a sister and wishing for another opportunity to spend time together.
Gillett's sister, Wendy Bonifacio, delivered an emotional tribute describing the lasting impact of her sister's death on their family. "My children and I miss you more than words can say. We miss your smile, your laughter, your voice, and the love you shared so freely," Bonifacio said, reading from a letter she wrote in Gillett's memory.
Bonifacio also reiterated the family's demand for accountability, explaining that Gillett had gone to address a problem involving a tenant at her mother's home, never imagining the encounter would end in violence.
"We want justice for my sister, she didn't deserve to die the way she did," Bonifacio told NBC 7, expressing outrage that her sister, a military veteran who had served her country for two decades, was killed while attempting to resolve a problem at her mother's property.
Gillett served approximately 20 years in the U.S. Army, including service in Iraq, and was remembered as a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Her family laid her to rest at Miramar National Cemetery in August, in accordance with her wishes, with military honors recognizing her service.
The family continues to seek justice as the criminal case moves forward, with a readiness hearing scheduled for Monday, October 26, one day before what would have been Gillett's 57th birthday. A preliminary hearing has also been anticipated for November 19, subject to developments in the proceedings.
The timing creates an unusual overlap between the criminal prosecution, the family's efforts to memorialize Gillett and the marketing of the property where she was killed. While the mayor publicly honored Gillett at Saturday's vigil, his wife's brokerage is listed as representing the home at the center of the investigation.
The circumstances also raise practical questions about the sale itself, including whether the criminal investigation has concluded at the property, whether the seller has completed any remediation or repairs, and how prospective buyers are being informed of the home's history.
SanDiegoVille has not independently established the identity of the property's current legal owner through recorded title documents, the nature of the brokerage's relationship with Gillett's family or whether the property has undergone specialized cleaning or restoration following the homicide.
The real estate listing describes a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-story house with a two-car garage and approximately 1,838 square feet of living space. At its advertised price of $769,000, the property is being offered for approximately $418 per square foot, although its condition and the circumstances surrounding the sale may influence its ultimate market value.
For the family, however, the address represents something far more significant than a real estate transaction. Gillett's death devastated relatives who described her as a generous caregiver, dedicated veteran and central figure in their lives.
During Saturday's memorial, Bonifacio vowed that her sister would not be forgotten, emphasizing that Gillett's memory would endure through the family and community she left behind. Her remarks underscored the family's determination to have Gillett remembered for the life she lived rather than solely for the violence surrounding her death.
The house where that violence allegedly occurred is now being marketed by the mayor's wife's real estate firm, even as the criminal prosecution continues and the family approaches what would have been Gillett's 57th birthday.
Whether the property's history complicates its eventual sale remains to be seen. For Gillett's family, however, the tragedy associated with 653 Via Curvada remains unresolved, and their pursuit of justice continues long after the residence has returned to the real estate market.
The four-bedroom property at 653 Via Curvada, where 56-year-old Army veteran Brenda Gillett was allegedly murdered and dismembered by a longtime tenant in May, is listed through Coronado Shores Company, the real estate brokerage headed by the mayor's wife, Myllissa "Myssie" McCann.
Publicly available real estate records identify Myllissa McCann as the listing agent for the approximately 1,838-square-foot residence, which was built in 1977 and sits on a roughly 9,094-square-foot lot. Originally offered for $799,000, the property subsequently received a $30,000 price reduction to $769,000, with the listing acknowledging that the house requires a complete remodel.
The listing also contains the notation "BOM - no fault of seller," a common real estate abbreviation indicating that a property has returned to the market through no fault of the seller. The available records do not explain the circumstances of the previous transaction or whether the home's connection to the homicide affected the marketing process.
The property is the same residence where prosecutors allege Robert Lee Watkins, a 41-year-old tenant, killed Gillett during a dispute involving the rental arrangement. The case drew widespread attention after investigators discovered that the victim's remains had been transported to multiple locations, including a neighborhood park and the waterfront near the USS Midway Museum.
Gillett was not the property's owner but helped her elderly mother manage the residence, where Watkins had reportedly lived for approximately 11 years. Family members previously told local media that Gillett had gone to the house to address escalating problems involving the tenant, including disputes over visitors and security cameras.
According to court documents described by NBC 7 and ABC 10News, Gillett contacted Chula Vista police during the early morning hours of May 24, reporting concerns about Watkins and his conduct at the property. Officers responded but reportedly explained that they could not intervene in an eviction matter or compel entry into the residence when no one answered the door.
Surveillance footage subsequently showed Gillett entering the rear portion of the residence around 3am. She was not seen leaving, and her sister, Wendy Bonifacio, reported her missing after becoming concerned about her whereabouts.
Police returned to the property for a welfare check later that day and discovered evidence suggesting a violent confrontation had occurred. Investigators subsequently located bloodstained items and other evidence, while prosecutors alleged that Watkins had injuries and blood on his shoes when officers encountered him.
Authorities said Watkins admitted killing Gillett, although he allegedly refused to disclose the location of her remains without receiving a deal. Prosecutors later described evidence that he struck Gillett with a hammer and hatchet before dismembering her body and attempting to dispose of the remains.
Investigators recovered portions of Gillett's remains inside a suitcase discovered at Paseo del Rey Park, less than a mile from the residence, and near the USS Midway along San Diego's waterfront. Prosecutors also described surveillance footage showing Watkins discarding items near the harbor.
Watkins subsequently pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and remains accused in the case. His alleged statements to investigators and the details presented by prosecutors are allegations that have not been established through a criminal conviction.
The property's appearance on the real estate market introduces another dimension to a case that has deeply affected Gillett's family and the surrounding community. The listing acknowledges that the residence requires extensive renovation, although it does not publicly detail the condition of the interior or specify what repairs may be connected to the criminal investigation.
Under California law, sellers and real estate agents generally must disclose certain deaths occurring on a property within the preceding three years when applicable disclosure requirements are met. The circumstances of Gillett's death would therefore be material information for prospective purchasers to evaluate, although SanDiegoVille has not reviewed the property's seller disclosure documents or determined precisely what information has been provided to potential buyers.
The identity of the listing agent is particularly noteworthy because of her relationship to Chula Vista's mayor and the couple's previously reported business interests.
Myllissa McCann is president of Coronado Shores Company, a real estate sales and property management business that she and John McCann acquired in 2017, according to the company's own published history. The firm has operated in the Coronado real estate market and has been associated with both residential property management and sales.
In May 2025, Voice of San Diego reported that the mayor's real estate company had filed documents to operate under names associated with Amara Bay, a major luxury condominium development planned along Chula Vista's waterfront. The reporting raised questions about the relationship between the mayor's public responsibilities promoting the city's bayfront redevelopment and his family's private real estate interests.
At the time, Mayor McCann told Voice of San Diego that he did not oversee the company's daily operations and had divested his ownership interest. The publication also reported that the mayor's financial disclosures had identified the company as worth more than $1 million and providing him with more than $100,000 in annual income. McCann did not immediately clarify when he had divested his ownership interest.
The Via Curvada listing does not, by itself, establish any conflict of interest or improper conduct by the mayor or his wife. There is no evidence that either McCann had any connection to the homicide, and the available property records identify Myllissa McCann as the listing agent rather than the property's owner.
Nevertheless, the mayor's connection to the case took on additional public significance on Saturday, October 24, when he joined Gillett's family, friends and community members at Veterans Park in Chula Vista for a vigil and celebration of life honoring the slain Army veteran. The gathering came five months after her death and just days before what would have been her 57th birthday, even as the home where she was allegedly murdered remains listed for sale through his wife's real estate brokerage.
According to NBC 7 San Diego, McCann was among several speakers who addressed the gathering, which also included Maricris Drouaillet, the sister of missing Chula Vista mother Maya Millete. Drouaillet spoke about the shared anguish of losing a sister and wishing for another opportunity to spend time together.
Gillett's sister, Wendy Bonifacio, delivered an emotional tribute describing the lasting impact of her sister's death on their family. "My children and I miss you more than words can say. We miss your smile, your laughter, your voice, and the love you shared so freely," Bonifacio said, reading from a letter she wrote in Gillett's memory.
Bonifacio also reiterated the family's demand for accountability, explaining that Gillett had gone to address a problem involving a tenant at her mother's home, never imagining the encounter would end in violence.
"We want justice for my sister, she didn't deserve to die the way she did," Bonifacio told NBC 7, expressing outrage that her sister, a military veteran who had served her country for two decades, was killed while attempting to resolve a problem at her mother's property.
Gillett served approximately 20 years in the U.S. Army, including service in Iraq, and was remembered as a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Her family laid her to rest at Miramar National Cemetery in August, in accordance with her wishes, with military honors recognizing her service.
The family continues to seek justice as the criminal case moves forward, with a readiness hearing scheduled for Monday, October 26, one day before what would have been Gillett's 57th birthday. A preliminary hearing has also been anticipated for November 19, subject to developments in the proceedings.
The timing creates an unusual overlap between the criminal prosecution, the family's efforts to memorialize Gillett and the marketing of the property where she was killed. While the mayor publicly honored Gillett at Saturday's vigil, his wife's brokerage is listed as representing the home at the center of the investigation.
The circumstances also raise practical questions about the sale itself, including whether the criminal investigation has concluded at the property, whether the seller has completed any remediation or repairs, and how prospective buyers are being informed of the home's history.
SanDiegoVille has not independently established the identity of the property's current legal owner through recorded title documents, the nature of the brokerage's relationship with Gillett's family or whether the property has undergone specialized cleaning or restoration following the homicide.
The real estate listing describes a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-story house with a two-car garage and approximately 1,838 square feet of living space. At its advertised price of $769,000, the property is being offered for approximately $418 per square foot, although its condition and the circumstances surrounding the sale may influence its ultimate market value.
For the family, however, the address represents something far more significant than a real estate transaction. Gillett's death devastated relatives who described her as a generous caregiver, dedicated veteran and central figure in their lives.
During Saturday's memorial, Bonifacio vowed that her sister would not be forgotten, emphasizing that Gillett's memory would endure through the family and community she left behind. Her remarks underscored the family's determination to have Gillett remembered for the life she lived rather than solely for the violence surrounding her death.
The house where that violence allegedly occurred is now being marketed by the mayor's wife's real estate firm, even as the criminal prosecution continues and the family approaches what would have been Gillett's 57th birthday.
Whether the property's history complicates its eventual sale remains to be seen. For Gillett's family, however, the tragedy associated with 653 Via Curvada remains unresolved, and their pursuit of justice continues long after the residence has returned to the real estate market.
Originally published on October 26, 2026.
