CLOVIS, Calif. — The death of a beloved California teacher has turned into a murder investigation involving his girlfriend and her husband, after authorities say the married couple was arrested in Mexico following months of investigation.
Geoffrey Bernardi, 37, was found apparently severely beaten and alone near a canal shortly before 1 a.m. on Dec. 18, 2025, according to the Clovis Police Department.
Bernardi was rushed to a hospital for treatment, but his injuries were fatal. He died less than two days after the attack, just weeks before what would have been his 38th birthday.
After an investigation lasting roughly eight months, authorities arrested Antonio Garcia, 40, and Misty Gomez, 32, in Mexico on Aug. 19. The pair were later extradited to California in connection with Bernardi’s death.
Police Say Attack Was Not Random
Investigators said Gomez was romantically involved with Bernardi while she was still married to Garcia.
According to police, evidence and communications uncovered during the investigation led authorities to identify the married couple as suspects.
By January, investigators had determined that Bernardi’s assault was not a random attack and had identified a person of interest, according to ABC30.
Authorities eventually used unspecified technology to track Gomez and Garcia to Mexico, where police said the couple had been hiding for months.
The case has now moved from a long-running investigation to criminal proceedings, with both defendants accused of murder.
Bernardi’s Mother Says Family Was Deceived
Bernardi’s mother, Erin Adams, told that her son had only been dating Gomez for a few months and did not know she was married.
Adams recalled how excited her son had been about the relationship.
“The first time he went out with her, he told me, ‘I met the woman I’m going to marry,’” Adams said.
The family, she added, had no idea Gomez already had a husband.
Adams also alleged that Gomez contacted her on the night Bernardi was attacked, telling her that he had been severely beaten. Gomez then reportedly joined the family at the hospital the following day.
According to Adams, Gomez appeared to grieve alongside them.
“She lay on his bed and wept and said, ‘We have to find who did this to him,’” Adams told the outlet.
Adams said she believes Gomez was pretending to share the family’s grief while allegedly knowing more about what had happened.
She said the family began suspecting Gomez’s involvement within two days of the attack.
Two Children Remain in Mexico
The investigation also took an unexpected turn involving Gomez’s two daughters from previous relationships.
Police said Gomez left the United States with her two daughters, who were later reported missing from Dinuba in April.
The girls, ages 9 and 12, remain in the custody of Mexico’s National System for Integral Family Development in Michoacán, according to their families’ accounts.
Relatives are now working to bring the children back home while the criminal case against Gomez and Garcia moves forward.
The children’s situation has added another painful layer to a case already involving the death of a California educator and the arrest of two people who investigators say fled the country.
Beloved Teacher Remembered for His Work and Passion
Bernardi was more than the victim named in a criminal investigation. He was remembered as a teacher, theater enthusiast and skilled stagehand and sound technician.
He worked in career technical education for the Clovis Unified School District and, in recent years, served as an AV design technician who helped operate theaters for district productions.
His obituary described him as someone who had found work he genuinely enjoyed.
“He was growing in a job he loved, working with people he loved,” the obituary said. “He was happy and thriving.”
Friends, colleagues and family are now left remembering the life Bernardi had built while prosecutors pursue the allegations surrounding his death.
Couple Faces Murder Charges After Extradition
Garcia and Gomez were initially booked into Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County before being transferred to Fresno County Jail.
A criminal complaint obtained by the outlet accuses both defendants of murdering Bernardi “with malice aforethought.”
Both defendants initially had $1 million bail set in the case.
The allegations remain accusations, and the criminal proceedings will determine what evidence can be presented against Garcia and Gomez.
For Bernardi’s family, however, the case has already brought an agonizing search for answers after months of uncertainty. What began with a brutal attack near a California canal eventually led investigators across the border to Mexico and to the arrests of two people authorities believe were connected to his death.
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