New details emerge as accused killers of Clovis educator appear in court
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The married couple accused of killing beloved Clovis educator Geoff Bernardi made their first court appearance Wednesday. New details about the events leading up to his death continue to be revealed.
Misty Gomez and Antonio Garcia appeared before a Fresno County judge for a brief hearing. Cameras were not permitted to show the defendants in court.
The couple was arrested in Mexico on Saturday before being transported back to Fresno County more than eight months after Bernardi's death.
Investigators also say Gomez took her two daughters to Mexico, where they remain separated from their families.
The proceeding lasted only a few minutes before the judge postponed their arraignment.
"We're going to continue the arraignment until September the third..." the judge said.
During the hearing, Gomez occasionally looked back toward her family members and smiled as Bernardi's relatives sat behind her in the courtroom.
Outside court, Bernardi's mother, Erin Adams, called Gomez "sociopathic."
"I think she gets the thrill from her grift or whatever she does," Adams said.
According to investigators, Gomez and Bernardi had been dating for about four months before his death in December. Bernardi's family says they were unaware that Gomez was married to Garcia.
Court documents and arrest warrants allege Gomez and Garcia were together in the hours before the attack that ultimately led to Bernardi's death.
"These are all her stories, and now what we've found out is that she's a big liar," Adams said.
Investigators say Gomez told authorities that Garcia had been driving her to a Clovis hospital because she was feeling ill. She claimed the two began arguing during the trip and that she forced Garcia out of the vehicle, leaving him behind.
According to police, Gomez then went to Bernardi's apartment. She later allegedly told investigators that Bernardi had been attacked by a homeless man. Authorities now contend the attacker was Garcia.
Adams said Gomez continued communicating with the family and even visited Bernardi in the hospital while he fought for his life.
"On the 20th, they declared him brain dead, and I texted her, still believing at that point that she was, you know, an innocent victim like we were, and then that's when all contact stopped," Adams said.
Also attending Wednesday's hearing were five men who said they had previous disputes or conflicts involving Gomez.
Two of those men told Action News that Gomez took their daughters to Mexico and that they have not seen the children for months.
"She (Gomez) has been making my life a living hell," one father said.
The man, who asked not to be identified on camera, said he fears the emotional impact the situation could have on his daughter.
"Her mother has filled her head with a lot of bad things..." he said.
"My biggest fear is that she is gonna be suicidal and she's gonna wanna run away."
Gomez and Garcia remain in custody with bail set at approximately $1 million each.
The couple is expected to return to court next week for their continued arraignment proceedings.
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