A married couple have been arrested over the alleged murder of a teacher who was dating the wife – and reportedly had no idea she already had a husband.
Geoffrey “Geoff” Bernardi, 37, was allegedly brutally beaten outside his apartment complex shortly after midnight on 18 December last year.
He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but tragically died less than two days later.
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Now, eight months after his death, Misty Gomez, 32, and her husband Antonio Garcia, 40, have been arrested in Mexico and extradited to California.
Police say detectives discovered Gomez had been Geoff’s girlfriend while she was also married to Garcia, as reported by Need To Know.
Geoff’s devastated mum Erin Adams claims her son had no idea Gomez was married and had fallen deeply in love with her.
She told local media: “The first time he went out with her, he told me, ‘I met the woman I’m going to marry.’ We didn’t know she was already married.”
The fatal attack happened near a canal in the area of Barstow and Peach avenues in Clovis, California.
Gomez was reportedly the only witness and initially described the attacker as a man wearing a black puffer jacket and hoodie.
But police later determined the attack was not random.
Investigators identified Gomez and Garcia as suspects after examining evidence and communications between the pair and carrying out further detective work.
Using technology, cops eventually tracked the couple to Mexico, where authorities allege they had been hiding for months.
Both were arrested by US Marshals on 19 August before being returned to California.
Geoff worked as a career technical education teacher with the Clovis Unified School District and was involved in theatre productions.
He was described as a beloved member of the community.
His grieving family remembered him as a “beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin” and a devoted family man who loved his career.
Following his death, Geoff became an organ donor.
His family said his organs helped save seven lives.
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