Antonio Garcia and Misty Gomez have been arrested and extradited from Mexico to California to face charges in connection with the December 2025 homicide of Geoffrey Bernardi, a 37-year-old Clovis teacher.
Authorities announced on August 25, 2026, that Garcia, 40, of Tulare, and Gomez, 32, of Dinuba, were apprehended on August 19. They are currently en route to a Fresno County jail, facing homicide charges related to Bernardi's death.
According to a Clovis Police Department news release, detectives uncovered evidence and communications linking the suspects to the crime. Police allege that Gomez, who was reportedly Bernardi's girlfriend yet married to Garcia, and Garcia beat Bernardi to death on December 18, 2025. The incident occurred near a canal at Barstow and Peach. Bernardi was hospitalized following the assault and died two days later.
The suspects reportedly fled to Mexico following the homicide, where they remained for several months. Authorities also stated that Gomez had taken two young children from previous relationships with her when she fled the country. These children had been reported missing from Dinuba since April and are currently being reunited with their family.
Bernardi's mother, Erin Adams, informed YourCentralValley that her son and Gomez had been dating for approximately two months prior to his death and that Bernardi was unaware Gomez was married. Bernardi was employed by the Clovis Unified School District as a career technical education teacher, specializing as an AV Design Tech responsible for managing school theater productions. An obituary described Bernardi as having a passion for theater, music, and the arts, and that he was progressing in a career he cherished.
