Sentencing in Los Lobos Murder Case
November 16 -- The drama for Los Lobos singer Cesar Rosas and other relatives of his slain wife, Sandra, reached closure today, as her kidnapper and murderer was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 22 years.
Gabriel Gomez, a 40-year-old ex-convict and half-brother of the victim, was told by Pomona Superior Court Judge Robert Martinez that he would be haunted by his actions.
Sandra Rosas was taken from her home in Rowland Heights, Calif., Oct. 23, 1999, while her husband was away on tour. Her van was found, several days later, with a mixture of blood from Rosas and Gomez in it. When Gomez was questioned, the day of her disappearance, investigators saw fresh scratches on his body.
Gomez was convicted of first-degree murder Oct. 31, with the additional finding that the killing occurred during a kidnapping. Martinez said today that the evidence in the case was overwhelming, despite the unfound body and unknown motive. He added that he hoped that Gomez would one day reveal the location of the body.
Cesar Rosas did not appear at the sentencing, but several family members spoke, and her cousin Ruben Robles also appealed to Gomez to reveal the location of her body.
The attorney for the defense said that Gomez had planned to address the court but changed his mind.
The prosecution did not seek the death penalty in the case. At the time of the verdict, Rosas said, "We just kind of move on now. We just want to move on. [Gomez] didn't just hurt me. He hurt hundreds of people. I felt like I died …"
