Ex-girlfriend of suspect in East Side murder of hedge fund founder speaks out

EAST SIDE (WABC) -- The ex-girlfriend of the 30-year-old man accused of killing his wealthy father who founded a prominent hedge fund is speaking out Wednesday.

Anna Rothschild says she feared for her own life after hearing that her ex-boyfriend was on the run, accused of murdering his father. She didn't know what to expect, because Tommy Gilbert was the last person she would ever suspect of being violent.

"I think I have probably never been as shocked by anything in my life," she said. "I had seen him just a few weeks ago. He seemed fine. He didn't seem like he was losing it. Anything like that."

Rothschild, a successful publicist, dated 30-year-old Thomas Gilbert, Jr., for several months in 2014, and they remained friends.

On Sunday afternoon, detectives say Tommy went to his parent's luxury Manhattan apartment, asked his mother to go out for some food, then shot his namesake father, Thomas Gilbert, Sr., a powerful hedge fund honcho, in the head.

Tommy's mother came back to find the gruesome scene and her son gone.

"He said it was a very strained relationship," Rothschild said. "He never verbalized any anger, just dismay he couldn't live up to his father's expectations."

Rothschild says she was terrified when she heard of the murder and that cops were looking for Tommy.

"I was actually scared to death that he might come here," she said.

Detectives arrested Gilbert at his apartment on 18th Street and found ammunition, a credit card skimming device and blank credit cards.

Investigators say his father had planned to cut his son's weekly allowance and identified that as a possible motive. Rothschild disagrees.

"That's completely absurd," she said. "I think it was long-term resentment and anger that pushed him over the brink."

Rothschild says she was unaware of Gilbert's checkered past, which includes arrests for drugs and violating an order of protection filed by a former friend. He pleaded not guilty, but he remains a prime suspect in an arson fire days earlier at the friend's home in the Hamptons.

"It's scary to think someone could have a dual personality," Rothschild said. "What did I miss? I obviously missed a lot, but I didn't see it."

Rothschild says Gilbert never talked about money problems. Her former boyfriend could be indicted by Friday on murder and other charges. He is being held without bail.