The last month of West Wilson’s life is starting to read like a writer’s block no one can buy. And now the news that his grandmother was shot and killed in her home in Missouri, and his cousin has been charged with murder.
Page Six’s Eric Todisco followed up the TMZ report with an official statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
According to the statement, Carroll County law enforcement responded to a shooting at a residence in the 100 block of West 14th Street in Carrollton, Missouri at approximately 10:25 pm on April 22, 2026. They found Gayle R. Wilson, 75, dead inside the home.
According to court documents and a probable cause affidavit, Sweeney and Gayle argued that night about her not helping with chores. After sitting on the sofa in the same room with him for about 30 minutes, he is said to have shot him without warning while he was sitting. He was shot in the head. Her husband Roger Wilson witnessed the incident and pointed Sweeney to the police who arrived. Sweeney’s handgun and handgun were found at the scene.
Sweeney, 28, was taken into custody without incident just before 10:30 p.m. He pleaded not guilty on April 24. He was booked into the Caldwell County Jail on a bond warrant. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 6. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating the murder.
Gayle R. Wilson was born on August 3, 1950. She was married to Roger for 50 years. She was a stained glass artist and quilter who had traveled to all 50 states. His obituary described him as “he lived a life marked by art, kindness, and lovely moments.” She is survived by Roger, 4 children, and 7 grandchildren, including West Wilson and Dakota Sweeney. Some outlets, including TMZ, are calling her the boys’ grandmother because West’s father and Dakota’s mother are his adopted children. The dictionary and many reports refer to her simply as their grandmother. A memorial service is scheduled for May 2 at 5 pm at First Baptist Church in Carrollton.
West Wilson, the Summer House A cast member and sports reporter, she is Gayle Wilson’s granddaughter and Dakota Sweeney’s cousin. This shooting took place the night before he was to film Season 10 Summer House reunion in New York City on April 23. He has not spoken publicly about his grandmother’s death and has not responded to media requests for comment. He was very quiet during the audio leak of the meeting and was seen leaving the meeting place with actress Amanda Batula. She and Batula confirmed their relationship in a joint statement on March 31.