Update: Closure in Los Lobos Murder Case

November 17, 2000 -- The drama for Los Lobos singer Cesar Rosas and other relatives of his slain wife, Sandra, reached closure Thursday, 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.

Cesar Rosas did not appear at the sentencing. Prosecuting attorney Don Clem said the murder was too painful for him to be present.

The attorney for the defense said that Gomez had planned to address the court but changed his mind.

Afterward, apparently moved by appeals by the judge and family members to reveal the location of the body, Gomez led police to a Rowland Heights park to search for the corpse, according to the Los Angeles Times. After failing to find the body last night, police told the paper that they would resume the search today.

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 …"