Woman and husband arrested in Mexico in killing of California man she was dating
A man and woman have been arrested in connection with the killing of Geoff Bernardi, who was attacked outside his apartment complex in Clovis, California, last December.
Antonio Garcia, 40, of Tulare, and Misty Gomez, 32, of Dinuba, were arrested Wednesday in Mexico by U.S. Marshals. The pair were returned to California and booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County early Saturday. They are being extradited to the Fresno County Jail, where their bail has been set at $1 million each.
Investigators determined that Gomez was Bernardi’s girlfriend at the time of his death, while she was also married to Garcia. Police say Gomez fled the country with her two young children, who have been missing since April.
Bernardi was attacked shortly after midnight on Dec. 18 outside his apartment complex. He was severely beaten and died from his injuries two days later. Investigators say Gomez was the only witness and described the attacker as wearing a black puffer jacket and hoodie.
By January, detectives had determined the attack was not random and identified a person of interest. The subsequent investigation led to the arrests of Garcia and Gomez.
Bernardi’s mother, Erin Adams, said her son did not know Gomez was married and had fallen deeply in love with her during their relationship, which had lasted only a few months. Adams said Bernardi had told her after their first date that he believed he had met the woman he would eventually marry.
Bernardi worked as a career technical education teacher with the Clovis Unified School District and was involved in theater productions with students.
Adams said Gomez called her family on the night of the attack to tell them Bernardi had been badly beaten. Gomez was also with the family at the hospital the following day, according to Adams.
Adams said her family began suspecting Gomez’s involvement within days of the attack. She also accused Gomez of pretending to grieve alongside the family while knowing more about what had happened to Bernardi.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities proceed with the extradition of Garcia and Gomez to Fresno County.
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