Court of Criminal Appeals affirms life sentence in crucifix murder case
The Associated Press - April 18, 2019 11:05 am
Juanita Gomez is escorted to her preliminary hearing in Judge Hammond's courtroom at the Oklahoma County courthouse in Oklahoma City, Okla. Friday, July 7, 2017. She is accused of killing her grown daughter while trying to rid the victim of Satan. Photo by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has affirmed the life sentence of a woman convicted of killing her adult daughter by forcing a crucifix and medallion down her throat because she believed the woman was possessed by the devil.
The appeals court Thursday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of 52-year-old Juanita Gomez in the 2016 death of 33-year-old Geneva Gomez.
Police found the victim lying inside her mother’s Oklahoma City home with her arms spread out as if she had been crucified. A large crucifix had been placed on her chest.
In another case, the court also upheld the first-degree murder conviction and life prison sentence of 27-year-old Revival Pogi, who was convicted of the 2014 stabbing death of 52-year-old Steven Qualls during a robbery in his Oklahoma City home.
