Lloyd Gomez

Lloyd Gomez (December 6, 1923 – October 16, 1953), known as The Phantom Hobo Killer, was an American serial killer who robbed and murdered nine vagrant men across California from 1950 to 1951. The murders were only linked to Gomez after he was arrested for a different crime and confessed to them. He was subsequently tried, convicted, and formally sentenced to death for the murder of Warren Cunningham, his second victim. He was executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison in 1953.

Early life Gomez was born on December 6, 1923, in Caliente, Nevada, to Native American-Mexican parents. His mother died when he was very young. Little is known about Gomez's childhood, but once leaving his parents' house in 1939 lacking formal education, he was never able to afford substantial living conditions leading to him becoming homeless. The second victim was 42-year-old The only witness to the killing, John Kapusta, could not identify Gomez based on the fact he was blind in one eye.

Just eight days later, on November 18 or 19, Gomez wound up in Mojave. While there, he murdered 50-year-old Earl Franklin Woods by bashing him to death with a large rock. On January 15, 1952, Gomez was arrested after police stumbled upon him walking the streets with a large slash across his face. Three state mental health specialists, R. B. Toller, Theo Miller, and Walter Rappaport, were appointed to see whether or not Gomez was capable of premeditation. Gomez' defense argued that due to the publicity surrounding the case, it would be impossible to select an impartial jury, and requested to superior court judge Raymond Coughlin that trial be moved elsewhere, something that he refused to do.

The district attorney of Sacramento sought the death penalty for Gomez. The trial began in June 1952. On the first day during the trial, Gomez ran out of his seat after seeing a guard opening an unlocked door, but was tackled before he could leave the building.

The next day, nine hours after the interview, Gomez was executed by the gas chamber. He initially declined a final statement, but his last reported words were to a prison guard, being "I don't want to live anymore."

Manuel Gomez On January 2, 1943, Gomez's father, Manuel Gomez, was arrested in Nevada for the murder of 47-year-old Jesus Maria Garcia, who was beat to death with a pick handle on New Year's Day. For the killing he received a life sentence after the jury recommended mercy.