Hollister
– The man accused of killing 31-year-old Elizabeth Esther Gomez
could face the death penalty.
Hollister – The man accused of killing 31-year-old Elizabeth Esther Gomez could face the death penalty.
Samuel Ethan Turner, 25, appeared in San Benito County Superior Court to hear charges of first-degree murder and mayhem in connection with the Tuesday strangulation and stabbing death of Gomez.
Turner told Judge Steven Sanders that he understood the charges and his rights.
District Attorney Candice Hooper said the mayhem charge on top of the murder charge makes Turner eligible for the death penalty. She said the charge was added because Gomez had been strangled and disfigured from multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Hooper said Turner has a criminal background, but would not detail any previous convictions.
“We don’t know a lot about his background,” Hooper said. “What I do (know), I can’t comment on.”
Hooper declined to release additional details from the Hollister Police Department’s report on the murder investigation.
Sanders appointed attorney Greg LaForge to represent Turner. After speaking with the defendant, LaForge asked the judge to continue the arraignment because medication that was given to Turner several hours before Thursday’s court hearing had made him “sleepy.”
When Sanders asked Turner if he felt sleepy, he replied, “Spacey in the head.”
Sanders continued the arraignment to 1:15pm Tuesday.
LaForge declined to comment on the case after the hearing.
Undersheriff Pat Turturici said Turner has been cooperative with jail personnel but is still on suicide watch.
Turturici would not say what medication Turner had been placed on, and said his medical history is unknown.
“We’re trying to get his medical records from other agencies,” Turturici said.
During the hearing, Turner stared at several of the victim’s family members who were in attendance.
One woman shouted at Turner as the hearing ended.
“You took someone who was loved away from us,” the woman said.
Turner is being held at the San Benito County Jail without bail. He will be in court again Tuesday to continue his arraignment.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
