This Mommy Tried To “Rid Satan From Her Daughter's Body” By Murdering Her With A Crucifix
Juanita Forced A Crucifix Down Geneva’s Throat And Watched Her Die
Photo: Cecilia Hernandez-Cromwell / YouTubeGeneva’s death was brutal—Juanita punched Geneva repeatedly then shoved a religious medallion and crucifix down her daughter's throat until she began to bleed from her mouth. She was so badly beaten that her ex-boyfriend, Francisco Merlos, didn’t recognize her when he saw her body. Juanita’s probable cause affidavit notes how the officers found Geneva’s body that day:
“Officers arrived and found Victim: Geneva Gomez lying in the home with a large cross/crucifix upon her chest. Blood was visible and she had suffered severe trauma around her head and face.”
Juanita Posed Her Dead Daughter In The Form Of A Crucifix
Photo: The Oklahoman / YouTubeJuanita told authorities that she attempted to cleaned Geneva’s body after her death as well as the room where Geneva's murder took place. She then positioned her dead daughter's body in the shape of the cross on the floor and placed a wooden crucifix over her chest. The assistant district attorney speculates that Juanita purposefully used the religious symbols to "make somebody think perhaps she had a mental illness or was insane."
Juanita’s Hands Were Swollen And Her Arms Were Covered In Bruises
Photo: djfrantic / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0When police arrived at the scene of the crime, they immediately observed signs of a physical struggle. Officers noted that Juanita's hands were swollen, and her arms were covered in bruises, which she explained were from her daughter’s attempts to fight off her exorcism. Juanita Gomez’s probable cause affidavit reads:
"Juanita stated these bruises were from her daughter fighting her attempts to rid Satan from her daughter's body."
Juanita Told The Police That Geneva Exhibited Signs Of Demonic Possession
Video: YouTube
Juanita claimed that her daughter was possessed by Satan and that she was attempting to perform an exorcism. She told police that the night prior, Geneva spoke in tongues, threatened her, and that her eyes rolled into the back of her head. When Merlos discovered Geneva's body and asked Juanita why she didn't call for help, Merlos said Juanita "kept mumbling about the 'devil' and 'money.'"
Geneva’s Ex, Francisco Merlos, Discovered Her Body And Called The Police
Photo: Cecilia Hernandez-Cromwell / YouTubeOn the day of Geneva’s brutal death, Francisco Merlos went to her house to apologize and make up. The couple were slated to marry, but Geneva broke things off a week prior at the behest of her mother. When he arrived at the house, he asked where Geneva was. Juanita pointed him toward the room where she lay dead, and he was met with silence and an eerie light from the television:
“I was like, ‘Where's my girl?' And [Juanita] said, ‘She's in the room.' Usually, my girl is real happy. She'd say, “I'll be right out, baby,' or something like that. But it was just the TV going on, there was no sound or anything. And then I looked, and she was laying on her back with the cross on her chest, and you couldn't even recognize her face.”
Juanita Attempted To Place Merlos In A Headlock To Prevent His Escape
Photo: Edd Couchman / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0After Merlos found his ex-girlfriend’s dead body, he attempted to leave, but the door was locked, and Juanita was blocking it. When Merlos tried to get past her, Juanita put him in a headlock in an attempt to keep him inside the house. Fortunately, he was luckily able to escape her grasp, and he ran away. Merlos called 911 and waited for police to arrive.
Juanita Never Showed Signs Of Remorse
Photo: Cecilia Hernandez-Cromwell / YouTubeOne of the most chilling aspects of this crime is that Juanita Gomez never seemed distraught or even repentant of her crime. Merlos, Geneva's ex-boyfriend who discovered her body, said that Juanita seemed detached and calm. At her first arraignment Juanita didn't show any signs of regret, and instead complained about a lack of toilet paper in her jail cell. While on the witness stand, the homicide detective who investigated the crime noted that Gomez was “unnervingly” calm and collected. Juanita only wept as she was taken from the court back to the county jail.
Juanita Feigned Memory Problems To Escape Trial
Photo: The Oklahoman / YouTubeIn the early phases of Juanita Gomez’s defense, her team attempted to plead insanity. She was scrutinized by a forensic psychologist, who easily saw through her ruse. They noted that Gomez "was grossly feigning memory problems to appear incompetent." Her defense team quickly dropped the insanity plea, and instead pleaded not guilty to first degree murder with the reasoning that Juanita didn't intend to kill Geneva.
Neighbors And Friends Said The Mother And Daughter Were Inseparable
Photo: Cecilia Hernandez-Cromwell / YouTubeNeighbors and friends close to the Gomez mother and daughter recalled that the two of them were inseparable. They worked together as massage therapists and often went to the beauty salon together to get their hair and nails done at the same time. Geneva's ex-boyfriend described the pair as being "as close as sisters." Their bond made the crime even more shocking to those who knew them.
Juanita Gomez Was Found Guilty Of First-Degree Murder And Will Serve A Life Sentence
Video: YouTube
Although Juanita Gomez’s trial lasted three hours, it only took the jury 20 minutes to come to their conclusion. Not only did they find Gomez guilty in the murder of her daughter, they explicitly recommended that she receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The judge who presided over the case agreed. Oklahoma City Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Lavenue said:
"We think it was a just verdict. It was an incredibly heinous murder. The victim suffered quite a bit before her life was ended. The crime scene was horrific. It was obvious that there'd been an extensive struggle all over the house."
