On September 17, 2009, Severo Gomez, 42, of Farmersville, was sentenced to state prison for acts committed on August 5, 2007. The Honorable Judge Gerald Sevier sentenced the defendant to life in prison with a minimum eligible parole date of 19 years, 4 months.

On August 21, 2009, the defendant was found guilty of willful, deliberate, premeditated attempted murder with great bodily injury, aggravated mayhem, child abuse and arson. The crime took place on August 5, 2007 in the city of Farmersville. The victim had been arguing with the defendant, her boyfriend, on that evening. The defendant led the victim into their bedroom where they continued the argument. The defendant had the victim try clothes on so he could dispose of the clothes he felt were inappropriate. At one point when the victim had no shirt on, the defendant reached for a container on the dresser and threw the contents onto the victim’s upper portion of her body. That liquid was later determined to be cement lacquer. After throwing the flammable liquid on the victim, he then set her, and the room, on fire. The defendant proceeded to leave out the back door locking it behind him. The victim was able to find her way out of the bedroom and down the hallway where her daughters helped smother the fire from her body.

The victim was immediately flown to Community Medical Center in Fresno where she remained for several months as she underwent numerous surgeries. The majority of the victim’s body is covered in scars and she continues to have follow-up procedures to help alleviate some of her discomfort.

The defendant fled to Mexico where he remained for several months. He was eventually apprehended in March of 2008 in Hollister, California.

The case was investigated by Sgt. Mike Marquez and the Farmersville Police Department, and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kerri Lopez, with assistance from Investigators Florencio Camarillo and Eric Velasquez from the Tulare County District Attorney Bureau of Investigations.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney Shani Jenkins: (559) 733-6411