Family seeks justice for beloved Clovis educator after violent attack

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Valley family is seeking justice after their son was brutally assaulted in a crime they're describing as "senseless."

UPDATE: 37-year-old Geoff Bernardi has died after being taken off life support, his mother confirming to Action News on Saturday.

"I have a really hard time being in the room with him because it just isn't my boy. It's just very hard to look at," Erin Adams said.

Erin Adams, the mother of 37-year-old Geoff Bernardi in tears as she prepares to say goodbye to her son, who was the victim of a violent attack early Thursday morning in Clovis.

"He went outside to smoke and he can't smoke on site of the apartment complex, so he walked to the canal bank. Somebody asked him if he would give him a cigarette, and he said, 'Sure, buddy,'' Adams said. "And they hit him over the head, he went to the ground, he yelled to his girlfriend, 'Run!' And then the person continued to beat him until he was unrecognizable."

The location of the brutal beating is along Dry Creek canal, located behind the Pacific Grove Apartments on Barstow and Villa avenues.

"We do get calls for service, however, nothing at all to this nature," Clovis Police spokesperson Ty Wood said.

"The doctors said that the injuries were not consistent with the beating from a fist, that it was consistent with some kind of object," Adams said.

Clovis Police is calling on the community for help as it investigates the crime as aggravated battery.

"Our Clovis police detectives in crime scene personnel were called out. They searched for any kind of physical evidence in and around the canal and the area that the victim was located in," Wood said.

"If you have any information that can help us identify who committed this crime, it could possibly save another person's life," Adams said.

His mother telling Action News Bernardi was a beloved educator with Clovis Unified who worked closely with students on theater productions.

Adams sharing one final message with her son, who would be celebrating his 38th birthday next month.

"Thank you for years of love and support and adoration. You took care of your mother, your brothers, your sisters. We miss you. This is too short of a time," Adams said.

As of Friday night, Clovis Police confirm to Action News that no arrests have been made in this case.

The family says they have taken Geoff off life support as they prepare his organs for donation, in hopes of saving more lives.

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