Jan 7, 2009 9:01 pm US/Eastern
Suspect Charged With Killing Mom, Ex-Girlfriend
Bodies Found After Gas Leak Reported In Apartment
NEW BEDFORD (AP) ―
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The bodies were found in this home on Independent Street Tuesday.
WBZ
A New Bedford man has been arrested in the slayings of his mother and ex-girlfriend, whose bodies were found in an apartment after the building's landlord smelled natural gas.
The Bristol District Attorney's office said just after midnight Tuesday that 35-year-old Gary Gomes was placed under arrest. Gomes was arraigned in New Bedford District Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and one kidnapping charge. He was ordered held without bail.
The 61-year-old woman found dead inside the home was Gomes' mother, Katherine Gomes. The second victim was Gomes' ex-girlfriend, 48-year-old Robyn Mendes. Both women were stabbed to death.
According to officials, after Gomes stabbed his ex-girlfriend, he used her blood to write "I love you" on the wall, and then put makeup on her face. Police Lt. Jeffrey Silva said the landlord's son found the bodies after entering the second-floor apartment on Tuesday afternoon to investigate the odor.
Gomes was arrested at another house where he was found barricaded with Mendes' 12-year-old daughter. Gomes is not the father of the child.
The little girl is fine and Gomes has been taken to Bridgewater State Hospital where he is being evaluated.
"The killing was motivated by his own disappointment in his life and his family coming forward was part of the statement that he gave," said Bristol County District Attorney Same Sutter.
Gomes just finished serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for beating and kidnapping Mendes in 2006. He was charged with assault with intent to murder.
Gomes was released six months ago, and police say it is unclear if there were any problems between the two when he got out. "What was taking place during that six months, I don't have the details," said Bristol County D.A. Sam Sutter. "He wasn't charged with any crime during those six months."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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