A California man and woman are facing murder charges in connection with the December 2025 death of 37-year-old Geoffrey Bernardi, a Clovis educator who died after being severely beaten near a canal.
Antonio Garcia, 40, of Tulare, and Misty Gomez, 32, of Dinuba were arrested in Mexico on Aug. 19 by U.S. Marshals with assistance from investigators, according to the Clovis Police Department. The couple was later brought back to California and booked into the Fresno County Jail.
Bernardi was found badly injured shortly after midnight on Dec. 18, 2025, near Barstow and Peach avenues in Clovis. He was taken to a hospital but died less than two days later despite efforts to save him.
Investigation led police to married couple
Investigators initially treated Bernardi’s death as a homicide and later determined the attack was not random. Police said detectives uncovered evidence and communications involving Garcia and Gomez during the investigation.
Authorities also learned that Gomez had been dating Bernardi while she was married to Garcia. Police say the couple eventually fled to Mexico and remained there for months before investigators located them.
Gomez was reportedly the only known witness to the attack at the time. Earlier accounts said she described the attacker as wearing a black puffer jacket and a hood. Investigators later identified a person of interest in the case before developing the evidence that led to the arrests.
Suspects returned to Fresno County
After their arrests in Mexico, Garcia and Gomez were returned to California. They were subsequently booked into the Fresno County Jail, where they are being held in connection with Bernardi’s death.
A criminal complaint alleges that Garcia and Gomez unlawfully and with malice aforethought murdered Geoffrey Scott Bernardi. Jail records have listed bail at $1 million for each suspect.
The allegations remain part of an active criminal case, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Gomez’s children remain in Mexico
The investigation also led authorities to Gomez’s two young children from previous relationships. Police said Gomez left the United States with the children when she fled to Mexico, and they had been reported missing from the Dinuba area in April.
As of the latest reports, the children remain in Mexico while authorities and family members work through the process of bringing them back to the United States. Reported that Mexican child-welfare authorities are involved in the matter.
The children’s situation has added another layer to the case, with relatives seeking their return while the homicide prosecution moves forward in California.
Bernardi remembered as educator and theater professional
Bernardi was more than the victim at the center of the investigation. He worked in career technical education for the Clovis Unified School District and was involved in theater production, audio and visual technology, and stage work.
His family has spoken publicly following the arrests. Bernardi’s mother, Erin Adams, said her son had been dating Gomez and did not know she was married to Garcia.
The arrests mark a major development in a case that remained unresolved for months. Garcia and Gomez now face the California criminal proceedings stemming from Bernardi’s death.
