Garcia skipped work after disappearance

It was revealed during testimony Wednesday that murder defendant Mario Garcia skipped work the days following Christie Wilson's disappearance and wro-te an ominous e-mail to his supervisor.Garcia is on trial in Sacramento facing charges of first-degree murder in relation to Wilson's disappearance. She was last seen Oct. 5 at 1:13 a.m. leaving the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln with Garcia. She hasn't been seen or heard from since.The 54-year-old defendant worked as a senior technology project manager with Sutter Health. The week of Wilson's disappearance Garcia was working on a "major project" according to his supervisor Janet Wilde. She testified Wednesday that Garcia was expected to be in the office daily from Oct. 3 through Oct. 14, 2005 to oversee the project. Wilde said she received an e-mail Oct. 4 around 5:30 p.m. from Garcia in which he expressed his "frustration" with fellow employees."I'm having some tequila. That said ... this day will live in infamy," the e-mail read, Wilde testified.Just hours later Garcia was at the Thunder Valley Casino. He met and gambled with Wilson at a blackjack table for at least an hour. The two were seen leaving together on video surveillance tapes. Garcia contends Wilson returned to the casino to retrieve her cell phone, however, there is no indication that she returned to her BMW parked at the casino or returned for her phone.Wilde testified that Garcia was to attend an important meeting Oct. 5 and was expected to be on time. He showed up for work after 10 a.m., about an hour later than expected. He left work at 11:14 a.m. Wilde said."It would be unusual for Mario to be late and to leave soon after," Wilde testified.For the next week Garcia either "telecommuted" or called in sick, she said.On Oct. 11, 2005 just days before his Oct. 14 arrest, Garcia e-mailed his supervisor explaining to her that he had "personal issues to deal with that would prevent him from going to the office.""(He said) I find myself in a big mess, due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time," Wilde testified. "My wife and I have hired an attorney."At that point, Oct. 12, 2005, Placer County sheriff's officials identified Garcia as a "person of interest." Garcia was arrested Oct. 14 on weapons charges after he was reportedly found to be in possession of an illegal club and several firearms.The defendant was charged with Wilson's murder Oct. 28, 2005.Hair found in and on Garcia's white Toyota Camry has tested positive, through DNA analysis to belong to Wilson. Additionally, prosecutor Garen Horst told jurors in his opening statements that blood and other stains in the car have been determined to belong to Wilson.In his opening statements prosecutor Garen Horst told the jury that blood samples in Garcia's car prove he killed 27-year-old Wilson.Throughout the trial Garcia has sat quietly dressed in a white dress shirt and slacks flanked by his attorneys. His wife Jean Garcia has been in the audience with various friends. Wilson's family has attended each day sitting across from Garcia's family. Debbie and Pat Boyd, Wilson's mother and stepfather and Wilson's father, Dennis Wilson, have declined to speak to the media for the duration of the trial.Garcia is being held on $3 million bail and is being housed at the Sacramento County Jail throughout the trial, which is expected to last through October.The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.